Traffic Rules for a School of Fish

Human beings need traffic lights and a bunch of rules to ensure that everyone on the road drives safely. Still we manage to have accidents and bang into each other. So how is it then that a school of fish seem to swim effortlessly together, without banging into each other and through some pretty athletic twists and turns in the water?

Studies show that each fish tends to have a preferred position in the school. Some of them are natural leaders and tend to move to the front of the school, while others prefer to follow. The fish use the pressure sensitive pores along their bodies known as the lateral line.

These sensors allow the fish to feel the pressure of the waves and the distance from it’s companions. Should a fish be left behind more than two fish lengths it will speed up to regain it’s position in the school. If it is closer than two fish lengths to the fish in front of it, it will slow down.

The position of the fish makes a lot of difference to it’s movement and role in the school. It would make an interesting science project to see just how different species of fish move in their schools.