Natural History Wanderings

NPR reported on a University of Texas study that found seahorses were top at capturing prey compared to all other fish tested. They caught their prey, Copepods a tiny crustacean 90 per cent of the time. Capepods are actually extremely fast but the shape of seahorses’ heads allows them trick the Copepods. Science News wrote

“New imaging reveals a seahorse trick. As its head nears the prey, a zone of water above the front of the tip of its snout stays calm. … The trick fools copepods, which rely on antenna hairs to pick up the incoming whoosh of water in front of an attacking predator.”

See video and read more at:

• Who Knew? Seahorses Are Stone Cold Killers: VIDEO : The Two-Way : NPR.
• University of Texas:Seahorse Heads Have a ‘No Wake Zone’ That’s Made for Catching Prey | News.