In a fascinating video, a group of striped eel catfish (Plotosus lineatus) performs a beautiful ballet that doesn’t just look stunning – it keeps the fish safe from harm.
“Watch this video shot in Bali by diver Marie-Laure Vergne: a school of juveniles forms a compact ball that moves like a wave, oscillating at the bottom of the water, in perfect synchronisation,” says Sidney Rostan on LinkedIn.
“This collective ballet is not just aesthetic: it's a survival strategy,” he says.
By swimming together in tight formation with one clear outline, the group gives itself the appearance of a larger animal in the hope of putting off potential predators.
“And as a bonus: they share information,” says Rostan. “The first ones probe the ground with their barbels, and the following take the opportunity to locate food more quickly.”
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Image and video credit: Abyss Dive Center Bali
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