Articles for tag: Fish

What Even Is a Fish? Biology’s Weirdest Classification Problem

What Even Is a Fish? Biology’s Weirdest Classification Problem

Annette Uy

Imagine plunging into the mysterious depths of the ocean, surrounded by shimmering scales, undulating fins, and creatures with faces so alien it’s hard to believe they share our planet. Now, here’s the twist: science can’t even agree on what a “fish” truly is. That’s right—this seemingly simple word hides one of biology’s strangest, most frustrating ...

The Fake Family of Fish: A Deep Dive Into Evolution’s Red Herrings

The Fake Family of Fish: A Deep Dive Into Evolution’s Red Herrings

Annette Uy

Picture this: you’re gazing into a vibrant aquarium, entranced by the hypnotic dance of fish. But what if I told you that some of those shimmering swimmers aren’t even “real” fish, at least not in the way you might believe? The animal kingdom is full of evolutionary surprises—nowhere more so than in the world of ...

Flying Fish: How Some Species Glide Over 200 Meters to Escape Predators

Flying Fish: How Some Species Glide Over 200 Meters to Escape Predators

Annette Uy

Imagine a fish so desperate to survive that it takes flight above the waves, using the open air as its last line of defense. The ocean is full of surprises, but few are as jaw-dropping as the spectacle of flying fish launching themselves out of the sea, gliding for astonishing distances to evade the snapping ...

a large whale with its mouth open in the water

Shape Shifters of the Reef: The Surprising Evolution of Plankton Eaters

Suhail Ahmed

New research shatters the myth of the “perfect” plankton-feeding fish revealing an astonishing diversity of forms defying evolutionary expectations. The Myth of the Perfect Planktivore For decades, marine biologists believed plankton-eating reef fish all evolved toward the same ideal body shape: But a groundbreaking 2025 study analyzing 299 species across 12 fish families reveals a ...

The Fish That Can Walk: Discovering Evolution in the Swamps of Georgia

The Fish That Can Walk: Discovering Evolution in the Swamps of Georgia

Annette Uy

Imagine a creature that defies the boundaries of its natural habitat, a fish that dares to step out of water and onto land. This isn’t a scene from a science fiction novel but a reality lurking in the swamps of Georgia. The walking catfish, an evolutionary marvel, has captured the fascination of scientists and nature ...

The Fish That Forgot Its Tail: Why Sunfish Look Like a Mistake

The Fish That Forgot Its Tail: Why Sunfish Look Like a Mistake

Annette Uy

Imagine diving into the deep blue ocean and suddenly encountering what looks like a massive floating dinner plate with fins. Your first thought might be that nature made a serious error, or perhaps you’re witnessing some bizarre sea creature that forgot to finish evolving. This is exactly what most people think when they first lay ...

This Fish Changes Sex — and It's Totally Normal

This Fish Changes Sex — and It’s Totally Normal

Annette Uy

Picture this: you’re swimming through a vibrant coral reef, watching a stunning parrotfish glide past in brilliant blues and greens. What you might not realize is that this magnificent creature could have started life as a completely different sex. In the underwater world, changing sex isn’t just possible — it’s a survival strategy that’s been ...

Why Some Fish Can Walk on Land (and Climb Trees)

Why Some Fish Can Walk on Land (and Climb Trees)

Annette Uy

Picture this: you’re strolling along a tropical shoreline when suddenly, a fish crawls out of the water, walks across the sand, and begins climbing up a nearby mangrove tree. Your first thought might be that you’ve stumbled into some bizarre nature documentary or perhaps consumed too much sun. But here’s the shocking truth – this ...

The Fish That Climbs Trees: Meet the Mudskipper

The Fish That Climbs Trees: Meet the Mudskipper

Annette Uy

Imagine walking through a mangrove forest and witnessing something that defies everything you thought you knew about fish. There, clinging to a tree branch several feet above the water, is a creature that should be swimming in the depths below. This isn’t a scene from a fantasy novel or a glitch in nature’s programming. This ...

Damselfish

The Fish That Farm Their Own Algae Patches on the Reef

Annette Uy

In the vibrant underwater world, where colors swirl and life thrives in abundance, some fish have taken on an unexpected role: that of a farmer. These industrious creatures cultivate their own algae patches, a practice that showcases the wonders of adaptation and survival. Imagine a bustling metropolis, where the hustle and bustle of everyday life ...