Cristina Zenato

Cristina Zenato Instagram – Why are these fish always swimming in front of these predators
Aren’t they going to get eaten?
The answer is no, they are not. Should the shark enter a feeding mode towards a prey, the fish would swim out of the way, but when these fish swim in front of a predator, they receive protection in return for a bigger favor.
These fish produce water movement and sound in the same range as other fish of the same size and shape, like jacks or tuna, which are possible prey for certain species of sharks.
The movement and sound produced by the smaller fish mask the one made by the shark, allowing the predator to approach the potential prey. When the prey detects the predator, it might be too late to escape.
Image by @kewinlorenzen during our trip exploring the sharks around The Bahamas.
@isotta_underwater_housings | Posted on 15/Nov/2023 19:41:00