A school of razorfish swims for cover among the branches of a red sea whip, Kimbe Bay, New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea

A school of razorfish swims for cover among the branches of a red sea whip, Kimbe Bay, New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea

Around coral reefs in the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, divers may come across schools of razorfish, swimming nose-down in the current. Why do these small fish swim in this position? It’s a form of camouflage. Aside from finning about coral reefs in a pose that doesn’t make them immediately look like fish, razorfish can also easily hide in the spines of a nearby sea urchin. And in doing so, they’re more likely to be passed by when predators swim past, looking for a meal.