A stunning moment in nature shows a large school of fish swimming in the shape of a heart in the waters off Florida, USA.
A drone captured this breathtaking scene, showcasing the movement of a school of fish.
A large school of fish swimming in a heart shape in the open sea.
Paul Dabill, 47, discovered the school of fish while piloting a DJI Mavic Air 2 drone near Juno Beach in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA.
“I was looking for mullet. This time of year is the mullet migration in the fall. I didn’t see any mullet at this beach. However, I found a wonderful moment,” Paul Dabill stated.
The school consists of fish from the Carangidae family, scientifically known as Caranx hippos, with several hundred swimming together to form a gigantic heart shape in the ocean. They maintained this heart formation for a few seconds before changing shape under the shimmering turquoise waters.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Caranx hippos is a predatory fish, preying on smaller fish. They have a flat, elongated body that is silver in color, sometimes with light yellow fins.
The video shared on social media has impressed viewers. These fish typically move in large schools, herding smaller fish, but the heart shape formation is a rare sight.
Ray Jimenez, a marine expert, noted that Paul Dabill was very fortunate to encounter the Caranx hippos school at this time, as they usually appear in large numbers off the southeast coast of Florida in early spring.
Mike McCullah, a social media user, remarked that it was a rare and wonderful moment to witness in nature.
Paul Dabill has also captured stunning aerial shots of rays, sharks, and other marine creatures using his drone.
