16th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Striped Swords

Striped Marlin hunt a bait ball off the coast of Baja, Mexico. This striped marlin has a sardine on the tip of it's bill. Striped marlin swing their bill to paralyze/injury the sardines so they can then eat the fish. The striped marlin light up with stripes to alert the other marlin of their intentions and also to confuse the bait ball.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 11.2018
Date Uploaded: 11.2018
Photo Location: pacific ocean, Mexico
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Copyright: © mike raabe