Grunion jump at chance for procreation
By Regina Nuzzo
Monterey County Herald
May 17, 2004
MONTEREY, Calif.
It’s a Southern California tradition, but a mystery to the Central Coast.
Under the full moon, hordes of coastal residents come out of hiding, hop onto sandy beaches and engage in odd mating rituals.
No, they’re not movie stars.
Tiny fish.
Grunion, a small, silverside fish whose survival is tied to the moon’s phases, have been spotted by biologists this spring on Monterey beaches.
The scientists were taking part in an effort started by biologist Karen Martin of Pepperdine University in Malibu to count grunion spawning along the California coast.
