Robotic Spy Eel Goes Hunting With Groupers!

Spy Moray Eel joins the gathering to explore the incredible hunting partnership between leather bass groupers and moray eels. The groupers find where the fish are hiding, while the eels flush them from their coral hideaways.
Clip taken from ep 3 'Deep Relationships' of our series Spy in the Ocean.
“Spy in the Ocean: Deep Relationships“ premiered Nov 8, 2023, at 8|7c on PBS & KZbin.
Spy in the Ocean is also available on iPlayer in the UK.
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In this episode our Spies reveal the extraordinary relationships that exist among the creatures of the ocean. Spider crabs rise up from the abyss in their thousands to shed their protective shells but, as our Spy Crab soon discovers, this makes them an easy target for hunting stingrays. But there’s protection in numbers, and those still with armoured shells form a crustation fortress that protects the vulnerable crabs inside. Spy Crab finds itself alone and unprotected and an easy target for the rays. Sharks have a reputation for being solitary killers, but when Spy Hammerhead joins a huge gathering of hammerhead sharks it discovers they can be surprisingly social. This mechanical marvel, propelled by its undulating tail, discovers why they meet together at a remote island off the coast of Colombia. A place where the laws of the food chain don’t seem to apply. Here they take a break from the rigours of the ocean and are groomed by king angel fish. When Galapagos sharks arrive, they are welcomed by pilot fish who swim close to their jaws, using the shark as their personal bodyguard. Rainbow chub have another relationship, they use the shark’s serrated scales as an exfoliator to remove parasites. The fish may be dicing with death, but in this place of apparent harmony, none are ever eaten. Elsewhere we discover that dolphins are more sociable than ever imagined and provide more proof of their fun-loving nature. Spy Dolphin & Spy Pelican discover they don’t just play among themselves they also encourage whales to join their games. In incredible scenes they leap playfully together, but in the end a whale is no match for a dolphin. In the Caribbean, Spy Manatee films the uneasy relationship manatees have with remora fish. These hangers on hitch a ride on the manatee’s backs, feeding on parasites as well their poo. The manatees also visit a spa staffed by sergeant major fish. The attention they receive sends them into a state of bliss until rays & sharks appear. These predators can’t resist taking an exploratory nibble from our Spy. Of all the relationships found in the world’s oceans, few can beat the spinner dolphins. Off the coast of Costa Rica, a team of Spy Creatures find out how essential communication is when hunting. Their astonishing leaps are a signal to other dolphins and they use their clicks and whistles to communicate at close range. In one of the most incredible sights ever seen, groups of spinner dolphins come together to form a megapod numbering thousands. As they set off to hunt, Spy Dolphin & Spy Frigate discover a surprising partnership between tuna & dolphins - one that takes them to a school of flying fish. In incredible scenes, the dolphins drive the flying fish from below, while the tuna pursue them in the air. As storms build in the Caribbean, spiny lobsters prepare to migrate to calmer & warmer waters using an ingenious way of traveling - a lobster conga! Spy Lobster joins a procession of over 50 lobsters as they march in single file to deeper safer waters. There’s safety in numbers & before long they go their own way as some find shelter in a shipwreck. Finally, our Spies travel to the Galapagos to discover the rich community of sea creatures that live there. Marine iguanas huddle together on the volcanic rocks basking in the morning sun ready to take on the day. Spy Iguana joins them as they leap into the ocean to search for food beneath the waves. Here our Spy also encounters the wondrous mola mola who arrive to be cleaned by angelfish and hogfish before they vanish back into the deep. Our Spy has one last inhabitant to find…a colony of damselfish. They are meticulous gardeners who work together to maintain their lawns of algae which they use to catch the eye of a mate. To succeed they must dispatch any trespassers. The worst of all are sea urchins who can graze their lawns to the ground. To remove them requires skill and cooperation. It makes a fitting end to our Spies’ ocean voyage. One that shows how sealife is interconnected in ways we could hardly imagine, an undersea world built on extraordinary relationships.
Narrated by David Tennant
Music by Will Gregory
Directed by John Downer
#eel #davidtennant #grouper

[@anonboy7095]

Robo eel: *having a stroke* The fishes: what is it, did you find something?

[@Hyraladen]

Spy Eel couldn't handle all that excitement

[@therealseanw.stewart2071]

3:47 "I think he's dead. Quick, check his wallet. See if he's got anything good on him."

[@Gruffyruff2195]

Amazing interaction between species!! Awesmome footage as usual!!! Thanks John for yet another wonderful video!!!!

[@JohnDownerProd]

Yes amazing behaviour. Glad you enjoyed it! You're most welcome.

[@Zeithri]

Fish to the Eel " _Hey, wake up babe. Mwaah~_ " Robo Eel: " _Beep boop_ " That's so amazing

[@Feline_Frenzy53]

Great example of co-existence between two species! Wonderful video, thanks John.

[@limaliw3508]

A symbiotic relationship yes

[@hunterhq295]

Another example is a badger with a coyote, badger flushes out prairie dogs

[@1.4142]

Amazing that the robot can actually swin

[@roxanamiranda3175]

Incredible Spy Eel with the Eels 👍

[@legitbeans9078]

"That's a Morayyyy" 🙂Always love these animal robot spy videos!

[@plankface]

The nudge to wake up was so endearing 🤩

[@unluckyneighbor4063]

Not only is this an amazing example of cooperation in nature, but both the eels and the groupers are so beautiful, it’s wonderful!!

[@DakovP]

What an interesting synergy between two creatures.

[@1beachwalker]

I've always been spooked by those scary looking eels! But, this was really amazing to show a softer side to them! Using the robotics is genius to discover their behaviors. Even seeing the groupers co -existing with them- waking them up was so interesting. Thank you for all you do. Still love the narrator and his accent! Let him keep that job! 👏🌟

[@JohnDownerProd]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@MyKutie]

Fascinating!! Its almost like humans using small dogs to flush game from brush/burrows!

[@ryanhiggins8869]

It’s an electric eel!

[@kipyo]

This is very inspiring! Observing the symbiosis of two very unlikely species from within the community is mind blowing.

[@AFloridaSon]

Absolutely amazing video.

[@JohnDownerProd]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Tvso9813]

All of that scenery is beautiful.

[@virginiatyree6705]

Beautiful post! Thank you.

[@JohnDownerProd]

Our pleasure!

[@Rapidboa80]

Meet the spy eel

[@NosManJr]

Let em get up! Let em get up!

[@NatureWitch]

Wait how were they recording the spy so closely and clearly? There's no way there was a diver down there right?

[@anonymously241]

I love this show 😍👍

[@Counterbalance_]

This is incredible! So much work put into this.

[@JohnDownerProd]

Thank you! It's very much appreciated.

[@xwzxg]

Awesome

[@alizaidanthamyeez740]

You guys might as well be factory producing these spy animals at this point.

[@snorkle628]

opening a pack of gum in class

[@ComfortsSpecter]

Incredible Concepts So Natural Churning and Burning Amazing Views Wonderful Eels Cute Robo Horrible Over Soundmixing

[@hunterhq295]

Hope for spy shark

[@tomholroyd7519]

Inter-species cooperation. Humans should learn this.

[@EstragonDidi]

Dogs and humans. Horses and humans. Mules/donkeys and humans. Elephants and humans. Eagles and humans. Ravens and humans.

[@TheRoguesy2]

Humans have cooperated with other species since the dawn of man. It's the only reason weve been able to survive.

[@kingzcomparison3683]

Are you asking for human and alien cooperation?

[@enricotoesca3941]

Heilà John 🤩

[@tracybowling1156]

There is NOTHING more interesting than animal, bug, and insect behavior! I used to think human behavior was interesting. But it cannot compare!

[@kingzcomparison3683]

Are you not human?

[@suzettecraig1811]

Always love your videos.

[@JohnDownerProd]

Thanks so much. Much appreciated.