Fish look down when they are swimming in order to navigate, according to new research. “The quirky trait enables them to estimate direction and speed – and not get lost. It evolved to boost stabilization in strong currents”, said a scientist. Taking visual cues from the sides could lead to them being swept away by fast flowing water
“It’s similar to sitting on a train car that isn’t moving, If the train next to yours starts to pull to away from the station, it can trick you into thinking you are moving too. The visual cue from the other train is so strong that it overrides the fact that all of your other senses are telling you that you are sitting still. That’s exactly the same phenomenon that we are studying in fish. There are many misleading motion cues above them, but the most abundant and reliable signals are from the bottom of the river.”said lead author Dr. Emma Alexander, of Northwestern University.
