ABSTRACT
Escape responses have been studied in a variety of species, revealing a high variability in kinematics and behavior. The escape response is the main defense mechanism used by most fish species when facing a predator attack. Fish escape responses are sometimes referred to as stereotypic / stereotyped. Some work suggests that escape responses are not stereotypic but show a relatively high variability in performance levels, which may be in part due to distinct response “types” with different strengths. Size is known to affect the perceptual and motor performance of fish, their vulnerability to predation and their energy requirements. Swerving can be useful to prey because it increases the unpredictability of the swimming behavior, and because small fish are generally more maneuverable than their larger predators. While escape responses are a common reaction of fish when under threat, fish may also show other startle responses, such as withdrawal and freezing responses.
