Scientists have discovered that predatory trumpetfish play ‘hide and seek’ by lurking behind other, non-threatening species to sneak up on unsuspecting prey.
On this behaviour, often called shadowing, the trumpetfish uses a non-threatening species of fish, akin to parrotfish, as camouflage to catch up with to its dinner.
The trumpetfish’s camouflage tactics are the one known example of 1 non-human animal using one other as a type of concealment.
“When a trumpetfish swims closely alongside one other species of fish, it’s either hidden from its prey entirely, or seen but not recognised as a predator since the shape is different,” said Dr Sam Matchette, a researcher within the University of Cambridge’s Department of Zoology.
