This footage was filmed and produced 5 February 2024.

[Credit: Alicia Burns]

A groundbreaking study reported in the journal Current Biology sheds light on the remarkable hunting tactics of striped marlin, uncovering their intricate coordination during group attacks on prey. Led by Alicia Burns of Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany, and her team, the research unveils a fascinating phenomenon: rapid color changes in individual marlins, signaling their readiness to strike.

Utilizing drone technology, the researchers captured unprecedented footage of marlins in action, revealing a striking pattern: as a marlin prepares to attack a school of sardines, its distinctive stripes intensify, only to fade back to normal once the assault concludes. This dynamic color shift, previously undocumented in group-hunting predators, serves as a crucial signal of the marlin's intent to its counterparts.

Through meticulous analysis of high-resolution video clips, the team confirmed the correlation between color change and predatory behavior, marking a significant breakthrough in our understanding of marlin communication and hunting strategies. The discovery hints at the possibility of complex communication channels among marlins and raises intriguing questions about the evolutionary significance of their color-changing abilities.