Which term describes synchronized movement in a coordinated group of fish?

Which term describes synchronized movement in a coordinated group of fish?

• A. Porifera
• B. Suspension Feeder
• C. Schooling
• D. Polyp

Answer: (C)

Synchronized movement in a coordinated group of fish is called schooling. When individuals align their direction and speed and swim as a cohesive unit, the group functions as a single moving entity. This behavior helps reduce predation risk through the confusion effect and can improve hydrodynamic efficiency as fish draft off one another. It’s more than just a bunch of fish being together; the key is the coordinated, unified motion. The other terms describe different ideas: a porifera is a sponge, a sessile filter feeder that doesn’t swim in groups; a suspension feeder is about feeding on particles in the water rather than movement; a polyp is a body form of cnidarians like corals and sea anemones, not a term for fish schooling.

Synchronized movement in a coordinated group of fish is called schooling. When individuals align their direction and speed and swim as a cohesive unit, the group functions as a single moving entity. This behavior helps reduce predation risk through the confusion effect and can improve hydrodynamic efficiency as fish draft off one another. It’s more than just a bunch of fish being together; the key is the coordinated, unified motion.

The other terms describe different ideas: a porifera is a sponge, a sessile filter feeder that doesn’t swim in groups; a suspension feeder is about feeding on particles in the water rather than movement; a polyp is a body form of cnidarians like corals and sea anemones, not a term for fish schooling.