Fishy Behaviour
Mallotus villosus, know in eastern Canada as capelin, breed on the stony beaches of Newfoundland each summer. They 'roll' up onto the beaches on the incoming waves in massive numbers to lay their eggs, after which they catch the next wave back into the ocean.
However, some do get stranded too high on the beach. The fish will then flip and flop to try getting back down to where the water is. Some fail. There are three basic techniques they seem to use. Some will twist/roll. Others employ a 'moonwalk' technique where they undulate their bodies, tail first, down the beach. They will also pivot on their nose, as shown in this image.
The fish prefer to breed on beaches with smaller gravel, like this one. All the little whitish/brownish balls you see, that looks almost like sand, are eggs, but the individual in the photo is a male so it only contributed the milk that contains the spermatozoa that fertilizes the eggs. The males develop stronger colours on their back and enlarged pelvic fins. Females are more silver/white on the sides and will have a swollen abdomen due to all the eggs. If conditions are not right, they will also breed off-shore.
The photo isn't the best, but does illustrate most of the points noted above.
Fishy Behaviour
Mallotus villosus, know in eastern Canada as capelin, breed on the stony beaches of Newfoundland each summer. They 'roll' up onto the beaches on the incoming waves in massive numbers to lay their eggs, after which they catch the next wave back into the ocean.
However, some do get stranded too high on the beach. The fish will then flip and flop to try getting back down to where the water is. Some fail. There are three basic techniques they seem to use. Some will twist/roll. Others employ a 'moonwalk' technique where they undulate their bodies, tail first, down the beach. They will also pivot on their nose, as shown in this image.
The fish prefer to breed on beaches with smaller gravel, like this one. All the little whitish/brownish balls you see, that looks almost like sand, are eggs, but the individual in the photo is a male so it only contributed the milk that contains the spermatozoa that fertilizes the eggs. The males develop stronger colours on their back and enlarged pelvic fins. Females are more silver/white on the sides and will have a swollen abdomen due to all the eggs. If conditions are not right, they will also breed off-shore.
The photo isn't the best, but does illustrate most of the points noted above.