Yoji Okatopulledonhisdivegear.Theunderwaterphotographergatheredhiswaterproofcameras.Thenhedoveintotheseaoffsouthern Japan.
When he reachedtheseafloor,hesawsomethingodd.Itwasagiantcircleinthesand.Thesandinthecenterlookedsmooth.Apatternofridgeswaspileduparoundtheedgeofthecircle.Otherdiverssaidthey’dseenthesemysteriouscircles,too.Yetnoonehadeverseenwhatmade them.
Searching
foraCause
Peoplecameupwiththeoriestoexplainthecircles.Somethoughttheywerecausedbyoceancurrents.OtherssaidmaybeaUFOhadlandedonthe seafloor!
Okatowantedtosolvethismystery.Heteamedupwithsomescientistsandfilmmakers.Theteamreturnedtothespotwherehehadseenthecirclemanytimes.Theywatched,butdidn’tgetanyclues.Thesandcirclesremaineda mystery.
Yoji Okato
sand circle
Asia
Japan
Apufferfishmovessandasitflapsitsfinsandswimsalongthe seafloor.
MysterySolved
Finally,theteamcaughttheartistintheact.Itwasasmallmale pufferfish.
Thelittlefishmadetinywavesbyswimmingbackandforth.Thewavesmadeacircleofsand.Heusedhisfinstodigdipsandbuildridgesinthesandcircle.Hecollectedbitsofshellinhismouth.Heplacedthemontheridges.Ittookhimaweektofinishhis work.
Okato’steamalsolearnedwhythemalepufferfishbuiltthiscircle.He’stryingtogettheattentionofafemalepufferfish.Hiseffortsworked.Shelaidhereggsinsidethe circle.
Okato’spatiencepaidoff.Themysteryofthesandcirclewasfinallysolved.Thecirclewasa nest.
Apufferfishswimsbackandforthasitmakesasand circle.