Why fish Shoal?
Shoal of fishes is one of the most amazing things you can encounter while diving. Hundreds sometimes thousands of fishes acting as if they were one living organism - the view can be mesmerising.
Fish derive many benefits from shoaling behaviour including defence against predators - through better predator detection and by diluting the chance of individual capture - enhanced foraging success, and higher success in finding a mate. It is also likely that fish benefit from shoal membership through increased hydrodynamic efficiency.
Fish use many traits to choose shoalmates. Generally they prefer larger shoals, shoalmates of their own species, shoalmates similar in size and appearance to themselves, healthy fish, and kin (when recognized).
The "oddity effect" posits that any shoal member that stands out in appearance will be preferentially targeted by predators. This may explain why fish prefer to shoal with individuals that resemble themselves. The oddity effect would thus tend to homogenize shoals.
Find more information about shoaling of fishes -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoaling_and_schooling
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