Video: How Sailfish Slash Through Schooling Prey
OutdoorHub Reporters 04.25.14
Sailfish have been well-documented for their predatory habits, which often involves the use of their long, flat bills. While the species isn’t known for creative swordplay, sailfish are actually proficient at using their bills to slash through schools of prey. The sailfish’s inherent speed and strength means that this maneuver can stun, or even outright kill smaller fish.
Researchers off the coast of Mexico took the following video while documenting a sailfish attack on a school of sardines. Sailfish sometimes hunt in groups, raising their chances of success by herding schooling prey into other members of the hunting party.