Mimics

Most parents wouldn’t be pleased if you told them that their baby looks nothing like them. But some fish parents might be happy at such a description. The lack of resemblance could make it more likely that their offspring will reach adulthood.

The newborns of many fish, squid, and other species look nothing like the adults. These larvae have big fin extensions, transparent bodies, long tendrils, and other odd features. Some of these features make them slower and less maneuverable, so it’s harder for them to get away from predators. And some make them easier to see.

But the odd appearance may provide a big advantage: The larvae may be “mimicking” jellyfish or other creatures that are either dangerous or just not worth the effort to catch. So predators leave them alone.

A recent study supports that conclusion. Biologists looked at thousands of pictures snapped by divers at night, mainly from a site near Palm Beach, Florida. The images allowed the scientists to see the larvae alive and in their natural environment. Before that, biologists had been limited to seeing mainly colorless, damaged specimens that had been collected in nets and preserved in jars.

The pictures showed the larvae of many species of fish and other creatures mingling with jellyfish and other less-desirable critters. And there was a striking overall resemblance between the larvae and the noxious animals. So the larvae could be hiding in plain sight—saved by the lack of a family resemblance.

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