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Basking sharks are one of the few warm-blooded species of fish

20 July 2023

The ability to warm up parts of their body may help basking sharks migrate long distances and overcome drag when they are feeding


Treated sewage released into rivers may hamper eel migrations

18 July 2023

European eels avoid swimming through plumes of effluent from sewage treatment plants, which could delay their journeys and use up precious energy reserves


Whale shark seen bottom feeding for the first time

1 June 2023

An ecotourism guide in Mexico filmed a whale shark gulping down material from the seabed, a behaviour that has never been observed in this species before


Broad-nosed ancient shark was one of earliest fish to smell in stereo

8 April 2023

Fossils found in Morocco show the sensory specialisation of a 365-million-year-old shark, given the species name Maghriboselache mohamezanei


Zebrafish seem to be able to count when they are just four days old

23 March 2023

Just a few days after hatching, zebrafish larvae can discriminate between bigger and smaller numbers, suggesting they may have an innate numerical ability


Dusky gregory farmerfish Stegastes nigricans

Algae-farming fish help coral reefs bounce back from bleaching events

19 March 2023

The presence of territorial farmerfish that look after algae gardens seems to help branching corals recover after heat stress has bleached them, but we aren't sure why


Siberian Sturgeon

Influenza viruses may have originated in fish 600 million years ago

1 March 2023

A flu virus found in a sturgeon resembles the predicted ancestor of all known forms of influenza, hinting that the virus first evolved in fish


The fossilised skull of a Dunkleosteus

Ancient fish thought to be larger than sharks was actually quite short

28 February 2023

Dunkleosteus terrelli was an armoured predator fish with bladed jaws instead of teeth that lived 360 million years ago. Researchers thought it was a 9-metre-long giant but it may have actually have been half that size


A brown ghost knifefish

Ghost knifefish make electric 'chirps' to spot where other fish are

20 January 2023

It has long been thought that the electrical chirps of brown ghost knifefish are for communication, but they might instead help improve electrolocation


Lattice soldierfish

Fish see in the dark thanks to extra layers of rod cells in their eyes

21 December 2022

Visual tests in nocturnal coral fish reveal how multiple layers of rod cells at the back of the eye enable faster vision in low-light conditions


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