A new study provides the first experimental evidence that the trumpetfish, Aulostomus maculatus, can conceal itself by swimming closely behind another fish while hunting – and reduce the likelihood of being detected by its prey.

In this ‘shadowing’ behaviour, the long, thin trumpetfish uses a non-threatening species of fish, such as parrotfish, as camouflage to get closer to its dinner.

This is the only known example of one non-human animal using another as a form of concealment.

Paper: Matchette SR et al. (2023). Predatory trumpetfish conceal themselves from their prey by swimming alongside other fish. Current Biology. 

Read the full University of Bristol news item

You can view a video about this research here: Stealth swimmers: the fish that hide behind others to hunt - YouTube