Underwater friendship is indeed real, as demonstrated by a Japanese diver who has formed a remarkable and unique bond with a fish, challenging the conventional notion that dogs are our closest companions. Brace yourself for a fishy friendship that will restore your faith in underwater wonders – dive into the article and witness this extraordinary duo making waves!
During one of his dives over 25 years ago, Hiroyuki Arakawa encountered Yoriko, an enigmatic Asian sheepshead wrasse. Their meeting sparked a remarkable connection, defying boundaries between humans and the aquatic realm.
From their initial encounter, the bond between Arakawa and Yoriko flourished into a deep and enduring friendship. Whenever Arakawa approaches the shrine, a simple tap on a piece of metal summons Yoriko, who swiftly arrives by his side. In a video, Arakawa can be witnessed sharing a gentle kiss with his aquatic companion, a symbol of their extraordinary friendship.
Arakawa nursed the sheepshead wrasse back to health by feeding it crabs daily.
To make things even more amusing, our adventurous friend claims that the creature, named Yoriko, possesses a face eerily reminiscent of a human—well, from a specific angle, at least. And here’s the best part: he swears that she recognizes him. It’s like they share some inside joke or secret understanding.
He went on explaining: “I guess she knows that I saved her and that I helped her when she was badly injured. I think anyone can get an animal’s attention by feeding them.” Decades have passed since Yoriko’s health struggles, but she’s thriving. With limited info on their lifespan, Asian sheepshead wrasse can reach 3.2ft.
A study even revealed that fish are capable of facial recognition.
In the study, tropical archerfish were trained to recognize human faces by spitting water at chosen images on a monitor. Even when faced with new faces, they accurately picked the previously learned face, surpassing expectations.
A researcher at the University of Oxford, said: “Fish have a simpler brain than humans and entirely lack the section of the brain that humans use for recognizing faces.” However, numerous fish exhibit remarkable visual behaviors, making them ideal candidates for testing whether simple brains can accomplish complex tasks.
The world beneath the waves never ceases to amaze us. And just with that, there are real superheroes with the unusual ability to live almost like fish. These individuals can confidently envision themselves swimming 200 feet below the ocean’s surface for about 13 minutes. Surprisingly, these abilities are not merely the result of dedicated training.
