Caudal fin streamers... Why?

[Chicxulub]

As I sit here and look at my Brachyplatystoma juruense, I can't help but wonder what in the world is the purpose of the streamers on these fishes' tails? My Jur has streamers longer than her body. I can't see what evolutionary pressure could have been applied to these fish that would allow fish with the streamers to have an advantage.

Does anyone have an idea what the purpose of these streamers could be? Other than just looking pretty blowing out in the current from my powerheads...

I'm flummoxed.

 

[Asianleful]

A lure for prey?

 

[knifegill]

While most adaptions are due to selective pressure, some traits are actually neutral and simply proliferate by chance. I could ask, "What lack of selective pressure permitted useless trailers to develop in this species?" Just food for thought. They probably do serve a good purpose.

 

[brich999]

of all the things... streamers? i was looking at my tank and wondering how on earth fish like green terrors survive with their colors, doesnt exactly look like they'd fit in (unless their natural environment is a tie dyed) but i know what you mean i have a couple geo surnamisis (sp?) and one has goegeous long streamers, can only attribute it to a mating display?

 

[JK47]

Filaments (streamers) were developed by fish so they looked like they were going faster like spoilers and racing stripes do for cars. The faster you look like your going the less likely a predator will chase you and eat you. And everybody knows all the ladies love a fast car. So in the fish world, filaments will get you all kinds of tail (pun intended) and no one eats you. Win win..

 

[ice blue]

Filaments (streamers) were developed by fish so they looked like they were going faster like spoilers and racing stripes do for cars. The faster you look like your going the less likely a predator will chase you and eat you. And everybody knows all the ladies love a fast car. So in the fish world, filaments will get you all kinds of tail (pun intended) and no one eats you. Win win..

Hahahahaha hahhahahahaha lmfao this guy made my day

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[cullens089]

Filaments (streamers) were developed by fish so they looked like they were going faster like spoilers and racing stripes do for cars. The faster you look like your going the less likely a predator will chase you and eat you. And everybody knows all the ladies love a fast car. So in the fish world, filaments will get you all kinds of tail (pun intended) and no one eats you. Win win..

 

[djaalix]

my goonch cats have streamers, and by watching them eat the streamers are like the barbels on their face. If a piece of food even brushes the streamers on their tail, they spin around and gulp down the food in the blink of an eye. So effectivly the streamers increase the fishes ability to search for and find food, thus there would be evolutionary pressure to evolve long streamers.

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