Dolphins hunting mackerel C014 / 1781
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Dolphins hunting mackerel C014 / 1781
Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) hunting blue jack mackerel (Trachurus picturatus). The mackerel have formed a bait ball, a defensive manoeuvre performed by schooling fish that makes it harder for the predators to pick out individuals. However, it can also draw the attention of other predators, some of which have learnt how to take advantage of the bait ball. Photographed in the Azores
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 9226843
© CHRISTOPHER SWANN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Animal Behaviour Atlantic Ocean Azores Bait Ball Baitball Balled Blue Jack Mackerel Cetacean Co Operation Cooperate Cooperation Corral Defence Defending Defense Defensive Delphinus Delphis Dolphins Evasion Evasive Feeding Formation Hunting Mammal Predation Predator Prey Preying School Schooling Shoal Shoaling Short Beaked Common Dolphin Spherical Strategy Trachurus Picturatus Underwater
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a mesmerizing moment in the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean. A pod of Short-beaked common dolphins, known for their intelligence and cooperative hunting behavior, are seen engaging in an intricate dance with their prey - blue jack mackerel. The mackerel have formed a bait ball, a defensive maneuver where they tightly group together to confuse and evade predators. In this stunning display of nature's strategy, the dolphins work as a team to break through the protective formation of the bait ball. With precision and agility, they navigate through the swirling mass of fish, honing in on individual targets. This remarkable sight showcases not only their hunting prowess but also their ability to communicate and coordinate effectively. However, lurking beneath these azure waters is another level of complexity. Other predators have learned how to take advantage of this defense mechanism employed by schooling fish like mackerel. The attention drawn by the bait ball becomes an opportunity for opportunistic hunters seeking an easy meal. Photographed in the picturesque Azores archipelago, this image offers us a glimpse into marine biology at its finest - predator and prey engaged in an eternal dance for survival beneath the surface. It serves as a reminder that even amidst seemingly chaotic moments in nature's realm, there exists profound beauty and harmony shaped by millions of years' worth of evolution and adaptation.
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