My circle, my kingdom, which alas only lasted as long as the river flowed placidly, for by the next day after a heavy downpour, this splendid perfectly-shaped artwork was gone.
It was most fascinating watching this small fish blowing and shaping this perfect bowl underwater, at the same time chasing off any fish that came by. It had first created a small bowl by rubbing its body against the sand, and gradually blowing around the edges to enlarge it. Brilliant! Unfortunately when I first saw it shaping a circle I had thought nothing of it and walked off. By the time I returned this formation was perfectly shaped although nothing happened while I stood trying to figure out what all that was about.
A quick search later reveals that some fish, eg, the male pufferfish, make such formations although much more complex than this bowl-shape, to attract a female to lay eggs in the centre of the circle and then it will fertilise the eggs externally, thereafter guarding the eggs till hatched.
Well, well, well, so fish do share something similar with birds after all in terms of courtship!
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