From mythical sharks to brilliant jellyfish, the ocean is full of unique creatures. Among all its great diversity there are also artists like the curious pufferfish, a species that draws a beautiful mandala on the seabed just to get a girlfriend.
When it comes to original mating techniques, both in the sea and on the surface we find fascinating methods. On land, there is the bird of paradise, with its black plumage and turquoise flashes that stand out in an incredible dance in the middle of the forest, or, there is the hummingbird with the “diving technique”, where the males rise up to 20 meters and then fall at full speed and just before hitting the ground they suddenly rise.
On the other hand, a little deeper, there is the seahorse. The seahorses have a more romantic method; When the temperature is warm then the ceremonial dance begins, where the ideal couple ends the flirtation by intertwining their tails.
However, from a romantic dance we went to an art mural. And many do not know the special technique of puffer fish to find a partner. Apart from extraordinary dances and striking coats, this fish uses a more elaborate technique: the art of mandala.
The pufferfish mandala to get a girlfriend
For some time now, unclear structures have been observed on the seabed. What at first glance appeared to be sand moving through ocean currents, turned out to be the work of art of a very special fish.
In addition to dedicating its life to inflating itself four times its size, the puffer fish also makes mandalas to get a girlfriend. This marine artist spends an entire week building the most beautiful mandala to impress a female of his species, but little has been discovered about this.
Although some strange drawings were discovered on the seabed in 1995, it was not until 2011 when their origin was confirmed. These patterns were not an underwater alien act, but were part of the pufferfish’s mating technique. It wasn’t until the BBC captured a puffer fish literally with “its fins in the sand” that it was known that mandalas were part of an important ritual.
An artistic and effective method of conquest
For an entire week, the puffer fish gathers its best skills and knowledge for what will be the work of art of its life. The goal is to impress a female, but the process is the most complex.
The fish needs to offer a tribute, a construction worthy of in order to perpetuate its genes. Once with that in mind, the fish chooses a random spot in the sand and begins digging with its fins and body for days without any rest.
Due to the ephemeral nature of the design in the sand, the puffer must be clever and quick with the creation of the mandala. Females are more attracted to sculptures with more crests and this complicates it, since the water usually destroys them quickly.
If the fish’s perseverance is good, a female will be attracted to the design and swim to the center of the mandala. But it’s not all about beauty, the best artist puffer fish is also considered a good architect, since the female seeks to ensure that the eggs are protected.
When a female has chosen a sculpture, she swims to the center of the figure to deposit her eggs and leave them ready for fertilization. While the male decides to go to fertilize the eggs, they are protected from currents and other dangers.
And so, after a week, the puffer fish completes the most beautiful mandala in the ocean. An impressive underwater castle that will quickly disappear from the sand, but that – at least for a moment – will serve as a fortress for new generations of a species.