Coral Reef Fish Starve Themselves To Maintain Social Order

Some coral reef fish starve themselves to avoid getting into fights with their larger, dominant neighbors, researchers have found. Emerald coral gobies live in small groups in which social rank is strictly determined by body size. Within each group only the largest, dominant female mates with the one resident male. Rather than competing for the top spot, subordinate female gobies often limit their own growth to remain non-threatening to higher-ranking fish. Underlying this strategy of peaceful coexistence is fear of being kicked out and left to die, the researchers say...