These rock-climbing fish can shimmy up a 50-foot waterfall

Seventeen years ago, researcher Auguste Chocha Manda observed thousands of shellear fish climbing a 50-foot rockface at Luvilombo Falls in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This behavior, previously undocumented in Africa, was captured in a new study by Pacifique Kiwele Mutambala and colleagues, highlighting the unique anatomical traits that allow these small fish to climb. The shellear, about the size of a french fry, can shimmy up vertical surfaces, a feat comparable to a salmon climbing Niagara Falls. Mutambala’s research, published in Scientific Reports, provides evidence of this remarkable ability, which is limited to smaller fish due to weight constraints. This discovery emphasizes the incredible adaptability of fish and expands our understanding of aquatic life. QUESTION: How might the ability of shellear fish to climb waterfalls inspire new technologies or innovations in human society?