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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 27, 2025

Long-term Behavioral Tracking of Freely Swimming Weakly Electric Fish

Long-term Behavioral Tracking of Freely Swimming Weakly Electric Fish

Published on: March 6, 2014

Wild fish use visual cues to recognize individual divers.

Maëlan Tomasek^1,2, Katinka Soller¹, Alex Jordan¹

¹Behavioural Evolution Research Group, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour, Konstanz 78467, Germany.

Biology Letters

|February 18, 2025

Summary

Wild fish can distinguish between individual humans, but rely on visual cues like diving gear. This study shows fish discrimination abilities in natural aquatic environments.

Keywords:

human–animal interactions operant conditioning recognition wild animals

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Last Updated: May 27, 2025

Long-term Behavioral Tracking of Freely Swimming Weakly Electric Fish

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Published on: March 6, 2014

Using an Automated 3D-tracking System to Record Individual and Shoals of Adult Zebrafish

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Published on: December 5, 2013

Behavioral Tracking and Neuromast Imaging of Mexican Cavefish

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Published on: April 6, 2019

Area of Science:

Animal Behavior
Aquatic Ecology
Fish Cognition

Background:

Animals in captivity can discriminate individual humans.
Limited evidence exists for wild animals, especially aquatic species.
Human interaction with wild aquatic animals is increasing.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate for the first time if wild fish can discriminate between individual humans.
To identify the cues fish use for individual human recognition in the wild.

Main Methods:

Two fish species (saddled sea bream and black sea bream) were trained to follow a human diver for food.
An operant-conditioning paradigm tested discrimination between two divers.
Divers wore either distinct or identical gear to assess cue importance.

Main Results:

Both fish species learned to discriminate between divers wearing different gear.
Fish showed no preference when divers wore identical gear.
Discrimination appears to be based on visual cues from dive gear.

Conclusions:

Wild fish can discriminate between individual humans based on visual cues.
Dive gear appearance is a significant factor in fish recognition of humans.
Findings have implications for ethical research and human-animal interactions in aquatic environments.