Coral Reef Studies: Rabbitfish Pairs Show Signs Of Reciprocal Cooperation During Feedings

Some fish like to lend each other a helping fin.

New research from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University discovered that pairs of rabbitfishes are much more cooperative during feeding times than previously thought.

Previous studies have shown such behavior in social birds and mammals. However, it was not believed to have been possible for fish.

"We found that rabbitfish pairs coordinate their vigilance activity quite strictly, thereby providing safety for their foraging partner," says Dr Simon Brandl from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, in a news release. "In other words, one partner stays 'on guard' while the other feeds -- these fishes literally watch each others' back.

"This behaviour is so far unique among fishes and appears to be based on reciprocal cooperation between pair members."

Researchers noted how reciprocal cooperation typically involves complex cognitive and social skills that scientsits didn't previously believed fish possessed. Yet new evidence shows clear coordination and presents evidences for such behavior in rabbitfish pairs. 

"There has been a long standing debate about whether reciprocal cooperation can exit in animals that lack the highly developed cognitive and social skills found in humans and a few species of birds and primates." Dr Brandl says. "By showing that fishes, which are commonly considered to be cold, unsocial, and unintelligent, are capable of negotiating reciprocal cooperative systems, we provide evidence that cooperation may not be as exclusive as previously assumed."

"Our findings should further ignite efforts to understand fishes as highly developed organisms with complex social behaviours," added study co-author Prof. Bellwood, also from the Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies. "This may also require a shift in how we study and ethically treat fishes."

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