Written by:
Hans Kruit
Since 1995 divers have wondered about the beautiful, geometric circles on the sands of the seafloor near Japan.
Referred to as "underwater crop circles" the intricate designs came and went with no explanation … until now.
The artists responsible for the mystery circles are none other than a species of tiny pufferfish.
Male pufferfish laboriously carve these elaborate circles — which are 7 feet in diameter — by flapping their fins as they swim through loose, fine sediment.
Because the pufferfish are only about 5 inches long themselves, it takes them between seven and nine days to complete a circle. Once finished, their masterpiece attracts female pufferfish, who lay their eggs in the center of the circles, which the male pufferfish then fertilize and guard.
It’s unknown what in the circles is desirable to the female pufferfish. Maybe they’re all just smitten with good design.
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