Watch how a queen triggerfish defeats a sea urchin's defensive tactics
Learn about the tactic a queen triggerfish (Balistes vetula) uses to prey upon a sea urchin.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.These snakes mean business.
-
Created and produced by QA International. © QA International, 2010. All rights reserved. www.qa-international.comMinerals crystallize according to one of seven motifs, known as crystal systems.
-
© China News Service/ReutersAfter surveying only a tiny fraction of a deep-sea trench at the bottom of the Diamantina Fracture Zone, a Chinese-led team of researchers counted the remains of 476 individual whales spanning a variety of species.
-
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail © Vlad1949/Dreamstime.comExplore a coral reef in the South Pacific and learn about its diverse fish population, which includes humphead wrasses (sometimes called Napoleon fishes) and triggerfishes.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.For animals, life is a daily struggle for survival in a dangerous and often unpredictable environment. This film shows some of the means of protection that nature provides its animal species.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Learn about North American river otters (Lutra canadensis) by watching them explore a recently thawed river and catch fish.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Some fishes have adapted unusual structures and behaviours to catch prey and to avoid becoming prey.
Transcript
NARRATOR: The queen triggerfish eats almost anything. It has powerful jaws, which are capable of cracking even the thickest shells.
Nevertheless, eating a sea urchin is a challenge because of its long, sharp spines.
The sea urchin tries to wedge itself in the rocks, but the triggerfish keeps pulling it back into the open.
Then it carries the sea urchin up into the water and drops it.
If the sea urchin lands on its back, the triggerfish will move in to attack because the spines are much shorter on the urchin's underside.
Time after time, the sea urchin manages to right itself, but finally it is not quick enough.
The triggerfish darts in and smashes a hole in the urchin, exposing the unprotected flesh.
Soon, all that remains is an empty shell surrounded by now-useless spines.
Nevertheless, eating a sea urchin is a challenge because of its long, sharp spines.
The sea urchin tries to wedge itself in the rocks, but the triggerfish keeps pulling it back into the open.
Then it carries the sea urchin up into the water and drops it.
If the sea urchin lands on its back, the triggerfish will move in to attack because the spines are much shorter on the urchin's underside.
Time after time, the sea urchin manages to right itself, but finally it is not quick enough.
The triggerfish darts in and smashes a hole in the urchin, exposing the unprotected flesh.
Soon, all that remains is an empty shell surrounded by now-useless spines.