Reason Behind Giant Fish’s Sun Time Uncovered
- 9 years ago
A research team led by the University of Tokyo has discovered that giant sunfish spend half their day sunbathing to warm up so they can spend more time foraging for food in the water’s cold depths.
Scientists may have figured out why sunfish float around the ocean’s surface for half the day--they’re warming up before diving deep for food.
A team led by a researcher from the University of Tokyo discovered this behavior after studying the massive bony fish, which often weigh in at more than a ton and measure up to 11 feet across.
They outfitted several members of the species with body-temperature monitoring thermometers and lighted cameras.
Based on the data these instruments collected, it was determined that sunfish spend their day lounging at the surface to warm up and regulate body temperature which then allows them to forage for food in deep, cold water for a longer period of time.
It was thought that the giant sea creatures only dined on jellyfish, but it turns out that what
Scientists may have figured out why sunfish float around the ocean’s surface for half the day--they’re warming up before diving deep for food.
A team led by a researcher from the University of Tokyo discovered this behavior after studying the massive bony fish, which often weigh in at more than a ton and measure up to 11 feet across.
They outfitted several members of the species with body-temperature monitoring thermometers and lighted cameras.
Based on the data these instruments collected, it was determined that sunfish spend their day lounging at the surface to warm up and regulate body temperature which then allows them to forage for food in deep, cold water for a longer period of time.
It was thought that the giant sea creatures only dined on jellyfish, but it turns out that what