Curious Caribbean Fish ‘Taps’ Sand to Uncover Hidden Meals – Watch the Amazing Footage
Mustique Island, Caribbean Sea – A marine biologist has captured fascinating footage of a fish exhibiting a peculiar behavior: tapping the sand on the seafloor. The video, shared by Laura Chapel of the Marine Diaries, shows a flying gurnard (Dactylopterus volitans) delicately drumming it’s fins against the sandy bottom off the coast of Mustique island, a small island nation within St. vincent adn the Grenadines.
[Watch the flying gurnard tap its way along the seafloor. Credit: laura Chapel]
The seemingly odd behavior isn’t random. According to The Marine Diaries, the gurnard is actively foraging for food.”as they scratch and probe the seabed, they uncover benthic [bottom-dwelling] prey like crustaceans and small fish which make tasty snacks,” the organization explains on Instagram. This unique hunting technique doesn’t just benefit the gurnard; other fish ofen follow, opportunistically scavenging for exposed prey.
But the flying gurnard is a remarkable creature in more ways than one. Despite its name, it doesn’t actually fly. Instead, it gets its moniker from its large, wing-like pectoral fins. These fins aren’t for soaring through the air, but rather serve as a defensive mechanism. When threatened, the gurnard expands its fins to appear larger and more intimidating, hoping to deter potential predators.
Adding to its unusual characteristics, the gurnard also produces a distinctive “grunting” sound – so the second part of its name. unlike humans who use vocal cords, these fish utilize their swim bladder and jaw muscles to create these noises, employing them for both dialog and to startle attackers, as explained by Mares scuba diving brand.
Chapel’s footage offers a rare glimpse into the fascinating life of this bottom-dwelling fish and highlights the incredible biodiversity hidden beneath the waves. It’s a reminder that even in well-explored marine environments, there’s always something new and surprising to discover.
image and video credit: Laura Chapel / @laura_the_marine_explorer
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