Page 16 - Boca Club News - July '20

Page 16, Boca Club News
The Arts

Book Review... “What a Fish Knows:

The Inner Lives of Our Underwater Cousins”

By Nils A. Shapiro “Gifts of the Crow: Think about it: a millionth of a second! I had to put the
How Perception, Emotion, book down at that point, marveling at the communication
“Jonathan Balcombe vividly shows and Thought Allow system of this small fish in Africa that I had never even
that fish have feelings and deserve Smart Birds to Behave heard of.
consideration and protection like Like Humans,” by John I will offer one more brief excerpt from this extraordinary
other sentient beings.” --The Dalai Marzluff and Tony Angell paperback volume (which, by the way, includes an
Lama “Buzz Sting Bite: Why interesting section of color photographs) just to give you
We Need Insects,” by Anne another example of the rich array of surprises you will
One of the great joys of having Sverdrup-Thygeson find in its pages. The chapter I refer to, Social Contracts,
the privilege of writing these review columns---175 as of “A Day in the Life of describes the ongoing relationship between “cleanerfishes”
this issue---has been the opportunity to discover books that Ancient Rome,” by Alberto (more than 20 different species of fishes that include
taught me more about the subjects that fascinate me than I Angela wrasses, damselfishes, jacks, cichlids, guppies, sunfishes,
ever learned throughout my school years, including college... “The Hemlock Cup: etc.) and their clients, well over 100 known fish species
and to share such experiences with my readers in the hope Socrates, Athens and the that include sharks, rays, lobsters, sea turtles, octopuses,
that some of you will find them equally rewarding. Search for the Good Life,” hippopotamuses—even humans in some Asian health spas!
As many of you know by now, I prefer non-fiction over by Bettany Hughes For lack of space in this review, I will omit sections of
fiction, and my tastes lean strongly to books about animals This month’s selection, “What a Fish Knows,” is the book’s text---indicated with an ellipse (...):
and nature in general, as well as early American history and another of these: a remarkable scientific work written in a In this win-win arrangement, the cleaner “picks over the
ancient world (generally Greek or Roman) history. Once in highly readable, non-technical style. Its author, Jonathan clients’ bodies, removing parasites, dead skin, algae, and
a while, a really good novel or more current theme finds its Balcombe, is the director of animal sentience at the Humane other undesirable blemishes. Clients benefit by receiving a
way into my reading schedule. Society Institute for Science and Policy. He has appeared spa treatment, including parasite removal. Cleaners get fed.”
But my real hope is that when I read a book which, for on numerous television shows, including the National ...“Clients are not passive participants. When it is their
me, becomes a truly life-changing or awakening experience, Geographic Channel, and is a contributor to The New York turn, they approach the cleaning station and hover in place,
I am able to express those feelings adequately enough in my Times and other publications. spreading their fins to help cleaners reach all the nooks
review to motivate you to obtain that book for yourself and For anyone who has ever had a simple bowl with a and crannies. Some open their mouths and gill covers to
derive the same wonderful benefit. goldfish as a child, or a more complex home aquarium with allow the usually much smaller cleaners to enter and exit.
Dozens of books that I have reviewed fit into this category, many tropical fish, and wondered whether they recognize A cleaner will sometimes butt her snout against fins and gill
but I will name just a few here as a reminder: the human faces staring at them...or whether to believe covers to signal the client to spread them for inspection.
“The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They the fishermen who claim that fish don’t feel pain from the Cleaners also vibrate their ventral fins so that they tap
Communicate—Discoveries from a Secret World,” by Peter hooks used to catch them...or whether some fish like to be against the host’s body in a signal that says, ‘Please keep
Wohleben petted by humans...or whether it’s important to be careful in this part of your body still for inspection.’
“The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into selecting which fishes can live together in a home aquarium “This is a dramatic scene if the client is a large predator.
the Wonder of Consciousness,” by Sy Montgomery and which cannot, including individual personalities...or Although a shark or a moray eel could easily snap up the
“What a Plant Knows: A Field Guide to the Senses,” by whether fish can hear and “speak” to each other underwater... cleaner for a quick snack, it just isn’t savvy to eat your
Daniel Chamovitz or whether fishes have intelligence, a range of emotions, and service provider.
“Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals a real memory (not just the three seconds that are generally “But it is kosher to show your consideration toward
Are?,” by Frans de Waal credited by people to goldfish)...these and hundreds of other them. Groupers, for example, use signals to assist the
questions are answered in this fascinating book that covers cleanerfishes who tend to them. A large mouth gape acts as
not only finned fish but octopuses, rays, eels, shellfish and
an invitation. While the cleaner is busy, the grouper keeps
Poet’s Corner: others. an eye out for any possible threats. If the cleaner happens
One of the most “shocking” facts in the book (pun
to be in the grouper’s mouth when danger is approaching,

Ode to a intended) relates to the way a species of elephantfish that the grouper snaps its mouth closed but leaves just enough
room for the cleaner to escape and dart into a safe cranny in
lives in river and coastal basins of western and central Africa
the reef. If a cleaner is in the gills, the same thing happens,
communicate with each other by high-speed electric organ
Pandemic discharges (EOD). Studies have shown them to have an only this time it is the gill cover that is left ajar.”
astounding ability to discern pulse time differences down
If this review has provided the bait to hook you into

to a millionth of a second! “This rivals echolocation by
wanting to know more about “What a Fish Knows,” trust
bats as the fastest form of communication in the animal me: You won’t be disappointed with the author’s full menu
By Jerry Yass, a Broken Sound kingdom.” of undersea information.
resident. The following was
written by Mr. Yass on May 17th,
2020.
Today is May 17, 2020.
Being stuck in my home for 60
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