At the beginning of the animation, the `food chain' phenomenon of a
small underwater ecosystem is displayed: various species of colorful
`pacifist' fishes are happily feeding on floating plankton (food
particles) while a ferocious predator fish is stalking a prey fish,
hoping to devour it. The remainder of the animation demonstrates the
hunting behavior of the predator and the evasive behavior of the
prey. We see the greedy predator chasing after each prey until the
prey is in close proximity, at which point the predator opens its
mouth and vigorously sucks in the prey. Moreover, we can see the five
reddish prey fish of the same species forming a school in an attempt
to escape from the predator while the predator is eating other
prey. When the still hungry predator finally approaches the school,
the little `fugitives' scatter in terror and the school breaks into
smaller schools. At the end of the animation, the satiated predator
wanders away leaving one lucky survivor. Fig. 
shows
a still from this animation clip.
Figure: A large predator hunting small prey fishes while pacifist fishes,
untroubled by the predator, feed on plankton.
| Xiaoyuan Tu | January 1996 |