Darwin's Amazing Animals

Elusive Giant Column ― Arabesque Greenling, Japan (7x11)

Air date: Nov 05, 2023

A massive twisting column rising from the depths features thousands of arabesque greenlings, a type of mackerel. This once common but mysterious springtime sight in Japan's northern waters has become a rarity due to climate change and overfishing. A vortex is formed from this constant spinning mass, sucking in surrounding plankton that feeds all fish at the top and bottom of the column. Such a display, however, also attracts a range of voracious predators including gulls, sea lions and dolphins.