Life along the fish lateral line and beyond

The author came to lateral line research rather by chance, yet this sensory system ended up as the main focus of my entire scientific career. This paper is not a review article. Instead, it gives an overview some major topics that author, collaborators, and students have worked on for more than 4 decades. During last century, was mostly approached using mono-frequency water motions generated in still with stationary vibrating sphere. At beginning, approach necessary useful. studies, became apparent fish can only be fully understood if natural hydrodynamic stimuli (including noise) were applied. Better methods, like particle image velocimetry, are then needed systems. Finally, how biomimetic used investigate function discussed. In final paragraph, gaps hence, opportunities exist systems highlighted.