On 14 January 2008, I encountered this shoal of several hundred black-striped salema (Xenocys jessiae: each individual 20 cms.), descending in a tightly packed mass near Isla Bartolome, Galapagos. I mention the date because the IUCN Red List indicates that this species - which is found only in Galapagos waters - had virtually disappeared following the 1987/88 El Nino, was subsequently seen rarely and is considered to be vulnerable. It was heartening to see this substantial number making for the bottom in a successful attempt to avoid predation by hunting bigeye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus).

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Size: 2703px × 3873px
Location: Bartolomé Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Photo credit: © Terence Dormer / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

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