Comb Grouper Feigning Illness

[Eli]

I saw a comb grouper lying on the sand. Its color was pale, its tail fin collapsed and lying twisted to the side on the sand, and its pectoral fins were by its side. As I moved closer to get a photo, this "dead fish" partially extended its tail fin and extended its pectoral fins. I snapped the photo. It was at 96 feet, I didnt wait around to see what the fish was up to. Later I found that comb grouper will feign illness as a feeding strategy. Gibran, F.Z., 2004, Dying or illness feigning : An unreported feeding tactic of the comb grouper Mycteroperca acutirostris (Serranidae) from the Southwest Atlantic, Copeia 2004, 403-405
A photo is below.

Fuji F31FD with Sea and Sea strobe and Fantasea FWAL-02 wide angle lens used, exif info below.
Comb Grouper Feigning Illness photo - Eli Finkelstein photos at pbase.com