Silversides

Silversides from Caribbean Reef Life on Vimeo.

Grouper amongst the Silverslides

Every year in the late summer, lucky divers can be treated to an explosion of these tiny fishes. Silverside schools consist of tiny herrings, anchovies and others, all hatching onto the reef at the same time in a process called“broadcast spawning”. They can be found in their millions, inside caves and canyons in shallow water. By hatching onto the reef at the same time, their natural predators are overwhelmed, becoming literally sated on fish, and so some will survive to carry on the process the following year.

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Silverslides - up close

Silversides try to stay as close to each other and to the walls of the reef as possible, moving in unison to confuse predators, such as groupers, jacks and barracudas. It is a time of plenty for these carnivores, with a seemingly endless supply of prey available. Even humans will cash in on this annual event; the commercial name for this catch is“whitebait”. For divers, it is an unforgettable experience.

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