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Researchers document small fish climbing 15-meter waterfall in Congo-Kinshasa

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Key Points
  • The fish species Parakneria thysi climbs a 15-meter waterfall in Congo-Kinshasa using fins to attach to rock walls.
  • Thousands of fish make this journey during the April-May rainy season, taking ten hours with risks of falling from strong currents.
  • This is the first detailed study of such behavior, published in Scientific Reports.

Scientists have for the first time closely studied how the small fish species Parakneria thysi climbs a 15-meter-high waterfall in Congo-Kinshasa. During the rainy season from April to May, thousands of these fish undertake a dramatic journey up the Luvilombova waterfall by attaching to vertical rock walls and using their fins in explosive movements. The arduous climb takes ten hours and is risky, as fish can fall if hit by strong water currents, especially when hanging upside down under overhanging ledges.

The study is published in Scientific Reports.

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