Bigeye Trevally

Photo: Jiayuan Lin · CC BY-NC

Bigeye trevally form enormous bait-ball-style schools at Tiger Reef, a collective anti-predator strategy that confuses larger pelagics trying to single out individuals. The schools rotate continuously around the pinnacle, following current lines and feeding opportunistically on smaller reef fish. Their sheer numbers create one of Tioman's most dramatic visual spectacles, particularly during the peak season from April through August.