A Pufferfish's Masterpiece | Big Pacific: Mysterious

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PBS Learning Media
A Pufferfish's Masterpiece | Big Pacific: Mysterious
In 1995, dovers disovered incredibly intricate sand circles scattered across the sea floor of the Amami Oshima region of Japan. The artist of these circles was a mystery for years, until it was revealed as the white-spotted pufferfish. Watch the pufferfish's intricate handiwork, as the three inch long fish shovels and moves sand into a circle that eventually reaches six feet in diameter. Once complete, the reason for the unusual design is clear; the circle is used to attract a female for mating and, if successful, serves as a nest for developing eggs.