Gotcha! Ultra-realistic robot proves there’s more than one way to scare a fish

In a side-by-side comparison, a robotic predator can frighten zebrafish just as well as the real thing, a new experiment demonstrates. These results may help advance understanding of fear and anxiety in animal populations, including humans. Zebrafish are increasingly taking the place of more complex animals in behavioral studies. Experiments have shown the advantages of using robots in studies of fish behavior, including repeatability and consistency. …read more