Something was afoot on my morning run. An unusually high tide had left the beach covered with more polystyrene than normal (from fishing nets), several dead spherical fish with pokey-out eyes and a dead 70cm-long turtle. I also spotted a few groups of fish jumping out of the water. We often see individual fish jumping, but how does a group of fish leap in synch? Do they plan it, is there a group leader.....and what's the point of jumping out anyway? One web site provides the following possibilities: parasite shedding, startle-reflex, behavioral communication (to alert other individuals of their presence), to help shed eggs during spawning, nuptial behavior, and air-gulping or swim bladder adjustment. I think they've been watching old episodes of Stingray.....the bit where Titan's fish-craft jumps out of the water chasing Troy Tempest?...I rest my case.
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