Pufferfish Builds Sand Sculpture for Mating

- Nothing compares to the true artist. The female will decide. Spy Puffer's creation is hardly worth second look. She's after masterpiece. But for this discerning art critic, there's still room for improvement, especially when some debris spoils the design. blemish easily dealt with by the male. But it still needs some finishing touches, such as shells to decorate the ridges. They're more than an artistic flourish. They stabilize the ridges, slowing the water that might stir the center. For this is where the female will lay her eggs, but the male has run out of shells and the female is losing interest. Spy Puffer becomes the artist's assistant. The finishing touch he needs. All this striving for artistic perfection is test of his fitness. Satisfied with the aesthetic details, the female enters the nest. They join together cheek to cheek. Then quick as flash, the eggs are laid and fertilized. With little help from Spy Puffer, the next generation of artists is on its way.