Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

n2doc

(47,953 posts)
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 05:40 PM Sep 2012

Small fish makes undersea "crop circles"



This pretty pattern was created by a small, amorous pufferfish.

Underwater cameras showed that the artist was a small puffer fish who, using only his flapping fin, tirelessly worked day and night to carve the circular ridges. The unlikely artist – best known in Japan as a delicacy, albeit a potentially poisonous one – even takes small shells, cracks them, and lines the inner grooves of his sculpture as if decorating his piece. Further observation revealed that this “mysterious circle” was not just there to make the ocean floor look pretty. Attracted by the grooves and ridges, female puffer fish would find their way along the dark seabed to the male puffer fish where they would mate and lay eggs in the center of the circle. In fact, the scientists observed that the more ridges the circle contained, the more likely it was that the female would mate with the male. The little sea shells weren’t just in vain either. The observers believe that they serve as vital nutrients to the eggs as they hatch, and to the newborns.

http://boingboing.net/2012/09/19/small-fish-makes-undersea-cr.html
5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Small fish makes undersea "crop circles" (Original Post) n2doc Sep 2012 OP
Super cool. Thanks for posting. Scuba Sep 2012 #1
Neato. Thanks. cachukis Sep 2012 #2
That is just fucking awesome! Solly Mack Sep 2012 #3
simply beautiful! n/t horseshoecrab Sep 2012 #4
Reminded me of standing sound waves... drokhole Sep 2012 #5

drokhole

(1,230 posts)
5. Reminded me of standing sound waves...
Thu Sep 20, 2012, 05:13 PM
Sep 2012

...known as "cymatics" - or, "visible sound" - as demonstrated in these videos:

(ample warning, you may want to turn your speakers down...or off, for that matter)





Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Science»Small fish makes undersea...