Regina Barber
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
Yes, yes it is.
Okay, so today on the show, we're talking stripy fish.
You're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR.
Okay, Ari, so you were so kind to offer me three fishes' wishes, and I used one by asking you why the tomato clownfish lose their stripes as they get older and then just only have that head bar.
Tell me what I need to know, Ari.
So if there's an adult there, they start losing their stripes.
What is happening?
It's always hormones.
So what's the purpose of these young fish losing stripes?
To find a fin hold or foothold, right?
In this like local social hierarchy.
Fish climbing up waterfalls.
I remember seeing these videos and it blew my mind.
Oh, no.
Naturally.
Basically defying gravity, right?
Well, I'm guessing this means it's important to protect the habitat across the entire range of the species, like the waterfall, all of it.
What?
They're just like rock climbers, right?
They're just like, I'm taking a break.