It is the largest predatory fish. Predatory fish - description of species, photos and videos. Ocean and marine predators

03.11.2019

freshwater predators

Pike

In the water bodies of Russia and Belarus, pike is ubiquitous. But not everyone knows what size it can reach. The pike is sometimes taller than a human and weighs up to 60 kg. The maximum size of a pike is 1.5 m, weight is 30-35 kg. It reaches sexual maturity at the age of 2-4 years. The lifespan of this fish is interpreted in different ways. The maximum age of a pike is 33. It is so predatory that it rushes at everything, even at its relatives. The pike is very strong, mobile and tireless. There are cases when a pike attacked another, almost the same size as itself. Sometimes you can observe how a female pike in an artificial pond (spawning) after the completion of the “marriage ceremony” (spawning) and the birth of offspring immediately “cut off” with her “lovers”, especially since males planted for spawning are significantly smaller in size than females. However, for all its greed, the pike shows a certain legibility. She prefers carp fish, bleak, roach, rudd, crucian. He is very wary of spiny fish; ruff and perch. If a pike catches such a fish, it does not swallow it immediately, but keeps it in its teeth until it stops moving.

Pike grows very fast. In pond farms, pike fry, planted in ponds for co-cultivation with carp, in the presence of a sufficient amount of feed in the form of weed fish, in one summer reach a weight of 350-400 g and 30-40 cm in length. In terms of growth rate, it occupies one of the first places among lake fish species spawning in spring. Pike, however, is not limited to one fish. She eats frogs, attacks ducks and other waterfowl. The pike does not disdain water rats, mice, shrews, squirrels and other small animals that swim across the pond. No wonder it is called the "thunderstorm" of the reservoir. Sometimes there is an opinion that the pike as a predator causes great harm to fish stocks. This view is based on an incorrect assessment of the importance of any predator in nature in general and the pike in particular, on exaggerated ideas about the number of fish it exterminates. The pike is the regulator of the fish population: by eating low-value trifles, sick and weak fish, it thereby enables larger and healthier fish to grow faster and produce healthier offspring. Pike is not a schooling fish. As in rivers and lakes, it lives in places with a moderate current, not very deep, grassy, snarled near the banks. Pike is a completely sedentary fish and only in spring, before spawning, it rises up the river, and by winter it goes into the whirlpools. She eats a lot, but digests food very slowly.

The body color of the pike camouflages it well among overgrown vegetation. Pike usually attacks prey from an ambush with a swift but short throw. However, she very rarely misses. Having missed, it usually does not repeat the attack, but returns to the ambush to wait for another victim. Pike prey most often grabs across, but always swallows from the head, turning it in the mouth with the movement of the jaws. And he does it on the go, without stopping in place after the throw. It is on this habit that catching it on self-made gear is based.

Zander

Pike perch is a large predatory fish, reaching a length of up to 1 m or more, weighing up to 10, and some specimens up to 20 kg. It is found mainly in large rivers and lakes connected with them. Pike live up to 15 years. Sexual maturity occurs at the 4-5th year. Pike perch can be called both marine and freshwater fish, since it is seen in large numbers both in the Azov, Aral, Black and Caspian Seas, as well as in large lakes and rivers. Closer to the northern regions of Russia, as well as in the west and south-west of Europe, pike perch is rare or not found at all. This fish is found in reservoirs with clean water. Every year, a certain group of lakes is stocked with reared juvenile zander. Pike perch is a warm-water fish. Best of all grows at a temperature of 15-18 °. Poorly tolerates lack of oxygen. Its juveniles grow rapidly under favorable conditions.

Within 2 years, pike perch can reach a mass of 1 kg or more. According to the nature of nutrition, pike perch is an animal-eating fish. During the first period, its juveniles feed mainly on zooplankton and partly on insect larvae and fish fry, later on they switch to feeding on small fish, and in our conditions - bleaks, tops, small roach, etc. Pike perch are not able to capture large fish due to the small mouth and throat size. Pike perch lives at different depths, depending on the location of its main food and temperature conditions in certain periods of the year. Unlike pike, he actively hunts for his prey and avoids areas with thickets, as here he himself can become food for pike. It spawns at a temperature of about 15 ° in April - June, depending on the climatic conditions of the area. Pike perch is a schooling fish. Lives in deep, snarled, cluttered pits, quarries, ditches, old riverbeds, h.p. However, the location of pike perch is not permanent. Where he was well caught the day before, the next day he may not be. The catch of zander in water bodies sometimes exceeds 400 centners per year.

Burbot

Burbot is the only representative of the cod family that lives in fresh water. Burbot has a peculiar body shape, which differs sharply from other fish. He has a flattened head, the body to the tail on the sides is strongly compressed and elongated. The skin is dense, protected by delicate, small scales. It has two dorsal fins: the first is short, the second is long, the same length as the anal fin. The burbot is characterized by a grayish-green coloration of the back with dark spots and stripes. The abdomen is pronounced, has a whitish tint. The body is slippery, on the chin of the burbot there is one antennae. The way of life of burbot is also peculiar. He does not like sunlight, dozes during the day, and goes hunting at night. Burbot is an extremely greedy and insatiable predator. He eats other fish more than pike. It has a circumpolar distribution. Usually found in rivers flowing into the Arctic Ocean. On the territory of Russia, burbot is distributed throughout the water bodies of the Arctic and temperate zones, in the basins of the Baltic, White, Black and Caspian Seas and in the basins of all Siberian rivers from the Ob to Anadyr throughout their entire length. Burbot reaches a length of 1 m, weight up to 5 kg, although there are individual individuals weighing up to 24 kg. In our reservoirs, the mass of burbot reaches from 1 to 2 kg. Reaches sexual maturity at the age of 3-4 years. Very prolific. There are females that spawn up to 3 million eggs. It spawns in January, when water bodies are covered with a thick layer of ice. Burbot lives up to 22 years. He likes cold clean water and is extremely susceptible to its pollution. In the summer months, when the water is very hot, it goes into deep pools, dark places, hides in holes, under snags, stones. Becomes immobile. In the heat, burbot does not eat. If a parking spot is found at this time, it can be easily caught by hand. Burbot is a bottom fish and, despite its lazy and sluggish appearance, swims very quickly and dexterously. An adult burbot feeds on fish: most of all minnows, ruffs and small perches, and does not neglect its own juveniles. Sometimes at autopsy in burbot weighing up to 1.2 kg, more than 40 perches weighing 3-5 g were found in the stomach. years in catches is less common.

Perch

Perch is a typical representative of lakes and rivers. Like pike, it has the widest distribution in the water bodies of Russia and Belarus. The average lifespan of a perch is 17 years. Sexual maturity occurs at the 4-5th year. There is evidence that the perch reaches a size of up to half a meter and a mass of 2 to 5 kg. By its predatory greed, the perch is not inferior to the pike. Unusually greedy. If there is rich prey in front of him, he, having barely swallowed one fish, immediately after it swallows the second, etc., so that often the caught fry, not fitting in his stomach, stick out of his mouth. The perch sits in ambush for a long time, from where it rushes to prey or chases small fish. Perch eats any fish, as long as it is of the right size. Do not give mercy to perch and their own offspring. They do not stop eating either in autumn or winter. The favorite food of perch is the caviar of valuable fish species. In winter, when water bodies are covered with a thick layer of ice, the perch does not stop its predatory lifestyle, destroying baby fish. It is especially voracious after spawning. Spawns shortly after pike. At this time, a good time begins for lovers of anglers. The perch prefers cool water and does not like to swim near the surface of the water, but when schools of small fish appear there, for which it hunts, it immediately rises from the depths. However, he does not live at the very bottom, but keeps not far from it. The perch actively swims during the day, and after sunset it stops moving and seems to be dozing. Doesn't handle heat very well. At this time, he hides in shady places or in plants, and then continues to hunt.

catfish

Catfish is one of the largest freshwater predatory fish. It reaches sizes up to 5 m in length, and sometimes weighs over 300 kg. Such giants, scientists believe, are usually 80-100 years old. In nutrition, catfish does not disdain anything. Eats shellfish, frogs, even large fish. Often, ducks, geese, water rats and other birds and animals that swim in the catfish habitats find themselves in the catfish's mouth. Catfish spawns in spring or early summer, in clean and quiet water on "nests". The female digs a nest in the ground with her pectoral fins in the form of a hole in which she lays eggs. The number of eggs reaches 130 thousand. Females lay eggs at the age of 4-5 years at a water temperature of 18-20°C. Catfish are caring parents. After spawning, fertilized eggs are guarded in "nests". In autumn, catfish go to winter, often lie in pits in quite large groups, burying their heads in silt. Catfish are caught with hook tools, cast nets, and fishing traps. Catfish is a strong fish. Experienced anglers say: if a catfish has fallen on a bait, it is not so easy to pull it out. Fighting him at the very beginning promises many surprises. It happens that it is not the fisherman who fishes the catfish, but the catfish leads the fisherman along with the boat. Feeling the resistance of the tackle, he tries to overcome it with a swift movement in a straight line. It makes no sense to hold him back at this moment. You should release 20-30 cm of the line, sometimes more, avoiding fighting at a short distance. The farther the predator goes from the shore, the more he gets tired and the more real the angler's chances of winning. In the process of fighting, the catfish gets tired and lies on the bottom. Then it's easy to take.

Catfish meat is tasty, contains a lot of fat and few bones. Catfish can be bred in special ponds, where there are a lot of low-value fish. Eating it, it grows relatively quickly. The catfish lives in deep-water reservoirs, whirlpools, near dams near old mills, in snarled areas.

Chub

Chub, one of the most beautiful fish of our reservoirs. Speaking of "ours", we mean the reservoirs of the Lipetsk region, although this is probably true for the entire central strip of Russia. Here is what, for example, Leonid Pavlovich Sabaneev writes about him - a description of the chub: “... The chub is very beautiful. Its back is dark green, almost black, its sides are silvery with a yellowish tint, the edges of individual scales are shaded by a shiny dark border consisting of black dots; the pectoral fins are orange, the pelvic and anal fins have a reddish tint, and the dorsal and especially the tail feather are dark blue, sometimes somewhat red; the eyes are comparatively very large, shiny, with a brownish-green spot on top. In general, a large chub comes closest to the ide, but is much longer, thicker and broader than the latter ... ".

In chubs, the dorsal and caudal fins are dark, with black edging along the edges. Most likely this is due to the peculiarities of the habitats, therefore, in some other rivers, the colors and exterior may differ slightly from the above. “In the rivers”, because it is in small rivers and in the upper reaches of large rivers, where there is an abundance of riffles and springs with cold water, that it is most numerous: here it is easier for it to withstand food competition with other predators, here there is an abundance of food both from the sky and from bottom in the form of all kinds of larvae, crustaceans and grass, and besides, a huge number of juvenile fish, which he eats with pleasure.

Ocean and marine predators

Shark

Among large predatory fish, sharks are the most famous, 20 families of which include about 250 species. About 50 of their species are clearly and potentially dangerous for humans, attacks of 29 species have been documented. It is practically difficult to distinguish between predatory and non-predatory species. Therefore, any shark with a length of 1-2 m or more should be feared, with the exception of the largest (up to 10-15 m long) whale shark, which feeds on plankton.

The most dangerous for humans are the great white shark, or "man-eating shark", having a length of up to 11 m, tiger shark, mako shark and Australian shark. Humans are also attacked by hammerhead sharks, whose head has two large outgrowths on the sides, on the outer edges of which there are eyes. There are no life-threatening sharks in the territorial waters of Russia, with the exception of the Sea of Japan, where they can meet in the summer. In the Black Sea there are 2 types of small sharks: katran ("sea dog", "spiny shark") up to 1-1.5 m long and a small (up to 1 m) spotted shark scillium. These sharks can bite only by accident with the careless behavior of the diver. Katran, bending the body in an arc, can quickly inflict a cut and an injection with a prickly spike. These wounds are very painful and take a long time to heal.

Large sharks inflict the most severe wounds, which in 50-80% of cases lead to the death of the victim from bleeding and shock. The compression force of the jaws of a shark reaches 18 tf. With a few bites, a shark can dismember a human body into pieces. The tough skin of a shark can damage a soft wetsuit or wetsuit and severely peel the skin. A shark can pick up the vibrations of a noisily swimming person at a distance of up to 200 m, long before it smells blood. Most often sharks make attacks in tropical and subtropical waters between 15 and 16 hours.

moray eel

Moray eels are also dangerous, which reach a length of 3 m with a body thickness of 30 cm. They hide in underwater caves, crevasses, thickets of vegetation and corals. If a person suddenly appears near the moray eel shelter or injures her, then she can inflict deep painful wounds with her teeth. Cases of the death of divers are described, who were not able to free their hand from the death grip of moray eels. It is widely believed that when a moray eel bites, it introduces poison into the wound. However, the toxicity of moray eels has not been reliably established, and most researchers consider them non-poisonous.

electric fish

Some fish can shock a person with an electric shock. These include electric catfish, electric eel, and several species of sea fox electric rays, which are widely distributed in tropical and temperate oceans. They are found in the Black, Japanese and Barents Seas. They live in shallow waters, most of the time they spend at the bottom, burrowing into the sand. Electric eels and rays are capable of producing discharges of electric current with a voltage of 8 to 350 V or more. When touching a large electric ramp, the discharge of current can be so strong that it knocks a person down and causes severe weakness, dizziness, cardiac and respiratory disorders. The electric eel current is rather weak (usually fractions of an ampere), but sometimes short discharges of current with a frequency of up to 300 pulses per second with a power of 1 kW (500V2 A) may occur. First aid and treatment of lesions by predatory fish is carried out according to the general rules of surgical treatment of wounds. Measures are taken to stop the bleeding, anti-shock therapy is carried out, tetanus toxoid is injected, antibiotics are prescribed. The victim must be hospitalized as soon as possible.

In case of electric shock, the patient needs rest, according to indications, anti-shock treatment is carried out. Recovery is usually uneventful. Prevention of damage by predatory and dangerous fish consists in observing precautionary measures when diving in areas inhabited by dangerous marine animals. Divers should be instructed about the possibility of the appearance of these animals, safety measures and the means of protection used (repellents, emitters of various designs, gazebos, shelters, improvised means of protection, etc.). Descents must be carried out by a group of divers of at least two people, one of which is insecure and observes the appearance of predators. Divers should wear waterproof clothing as it has been observed that a shark is much less likely to attack a clothed person than a naked one. Diving equipment must be painted in a single dark color. Near the divers there should be a gazebo-shelter with a door previously opened and taken on a stopper. At the place of descent, there should be a boat with a safety diver and a team for circular observation of the water surface and scaring off marine predators. During the period of diving operations in the area where dangerous marine animals live, it is strictly forbidden to throw food waste overboard.

Other marine predators

No less dangerous than a shark is the swordfish, which has a length of up to 4.5 m and is armed with a hard bone sword. Large barracudas, whose length reaches 2-3 m, swim quickly, can suddenly and swiftly attack, inflicting serious, intractable wounds on a person with their sharp large teeth. Barracudas are sensitive to brightly colored objects and water movements. A sailboat can severely injure a person with a blow from a sword that secretes mucus. At the site of the lesion, an ulcer is formed, prone to suppuration.

Human behavior when meeting with a marine predator

Divers should move calmly and smoothly under water, show attention and discretion, avoid contact with unfamiliar representatives of the marine fauna, and only survey narrowness with a pole or probe. When predators appear, the diver must immediately report to the leader of the descent, cut the repellent bag and go into the refuge gazebo or climb up, using a diving knife if necessary to protect against a predator. In the absence of an arbor-shelter, divers must rise at the same time "back to back", repelling predators with improvised means. In some cases, the shark was driven away by hitting it on the nose, eyes or gills. Being in the area of possible occurrence of sharks, the diver, upon receiving even a slight scratch, must get out of the water. Diving operations in areas inhabited by dangerous marine animals are prohibited:

at night without the use of special shelters or underwater houses;
in places of setting and sampling of networks, outlets of waste sewer waters, waste waters of meat and fish processing plants and other food enterprises;
in the presence of bleeding wounds and abrasions on the diver's body;
when large marine predators appear;
immediately after underwater blasting in the area.

A person still knows very little who lives in the depths of the ocean, but even our knowledge is enough to understand that, in addition to cute fish, the most nightmarish creatures swim there. At least we can make the TOP 10 most terrible fish in the world, keeping in mind their appearance or habits.

1 Great White Shark

As far as we know now, the most terrible fish in the world's oceans is the white shark. This very ancient species is huge and bloodthirsty. The size of the white shark is such that any marine life, except killer whales and large whales, is prey for it. Included in its menu and human meat, but infrequently - as a delicacy. In the huge mouth of the white shark, several rows of very sharp teeth are hidden, which are constantly updated throughout its life. The length of the white shark can reach up to 10 meters, and it easily bites a large prey - a seal or a person - in half.

2. Longhorn sabertooth

If we take into account only appearance, then the long-horned saber-toothed fish looks the most terrifying, it is also an ordinary saber-tooth and an ordinary needle-tooth. She actually looks quite scary and not very nice. This fish has a disproportionately large head. The body of adults is black. Long thin teeth protrude from both jaws of the fish. Interestingly, in appearance, young saber-tooths are very different from adults, so scientists for a long time even attributed them to a different species. They have a different body structure, pointed spikes on their heads and a lighter color, and they live at shallower depths.
These fish, resembling gargoyles, live at great depths of the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans in tropical and subtropical latitudes. These horror stories feed on crustaceans, small fish and squid. The young growth of the long-horned sabertooth itself is food for larger predators: tuna and no less terrible alepisaurs.

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3. Drop fish

Off the coast of Australia and Tasmania, at a very great depth (presumably 600-1200 meters), there is a drop fish, which also made the list of the most terrible fish. More precisely, it is not so much scary as unattractive and somewhat disgusting looking. Local fishermen call it the "Australian goby".
The fish resembles at the same time the displeased senile face of a person and some kind of embryo because of the watery, slippery body. However, for a person it does not pose a danger, if only because a person never appears at a kilometer depth, and the fish does not swim near the surface. The drop fish lacks a swim bladder. The expression of the "face" of this fish is sad, even dull. This fish is inedible, but recently it has been increasingly caught by fishermen, which is why scientists began to fear for the safety of this species - maybe that's why the drop fish is so grieving? It will take at least a decade to restore its population.

4. Goblin shark

The goblin shark (Mitzekurina, Scapanorhynchus) also lives at great depths, but its population is probably not numerous. At least to date, only a few such specimens (less than 50 fish) have been caught. Scientists have no idea about the habits of this mysterious deep-sea monster. So far, they have only been able to establish that this species lives in the warm waters of all oceans at a depth of more than 200 meters. This shark is sometimes called a "goblin" for its intimidating appearance with a huge growth on its head and retractable forward, almost like an "Alien" jaws. Collectors of natural wonders greatly appreciate such jaws.

5. Latimeria

The coelacanth fish is an incredibly ancient species considered to be a living fossil. For hundreds of millions of years, it has changed little in its structure. The appearance of the coelacanth is creepy, but it is not a very mobile fish and spends a lot of time in underwater caves.
At the moment, two species of coelacanths have been found, one lives in the southwestern part of the Indian Ocean, off the coast of South Africa, and the second was discovered at the very end of the last century near the island of Sulawesi. Coelacanths are covered, like armor, with powerful scales, which is a good defense for them. The scales of coelacanths are unique, not found in any other modern fish, on its outer surface there are many protrusions that make the scales look like a file. They feed on coelacanths, anchovies, cardinal fish, cephalopods, cuttlefish and even big-headed sharks.

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6. Monkfish

Angler fish or the European angler is not uncommon, it lives almost along the entire European coast, from the Black Sea to the Barents Sea. The fish was named so because of its ugly appearance - a naked, scaleless body, a huge head with a large mouth.
This monster is able to glow in the darkness of the deep sea - a luminous outgrowth-rod looms in front of the fish's mouth, which lures prey to itself. This fish belongs to the anglerfish order, and given that it reaches an impressive two-meter length and a human weight of 60 kg, it is easy to imagine how such a monster can scare.

7. Viper fish

The frightening appearance has become the main reason for the popularity of the viper fish: a long thin body with luminous points, a disproportionately large mouth dotted with needle-sharp teeth, a luminous fin - a rod that lures rustic victims into this mouth. The habitat of this fish is extensive - the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. But in this case, this fish is quite small - only 25 centimeters long.
This small predator is also deep-sea - it lives at about a kilometer depth, and if necessary, it can even descend into a 4-kilometer abyss. But this nocturnal predator hunts near the surface for small fish and other living creatures, after which it again plunges into the less populated depths of the ocean, where it can feel relatively safe.

8. Wart (stone fish)

Divers see on the seabed a lot of different stones, differing in color and shape. However, some stones may move unexpectedly. This is how the warty mimics under the underwater stone - the most poisonous fish in the world. The body of the fish is covered with soft skin with bumps, like warts, which helps it skillfully disguise itself at the bottom, pretending to be a nondescript stone. But the sharp poisonous dorsal fins of this fish are especially dangerous, for which it was also called the wasp fish, and the Australian natives called it the warty vampire.
The length of an adult wart can reach 40 cm, although some divers claim that they have met half a meter of warts. The color of the stone fish can vary from brown to green, with reddish-orange spots. Despite the danger and repulsive appearance, the wart is an edible fish that is used to make sashimi. But the spines on the dorsal fin can easily pierce shoes and injure the leg, which often ends in the death of a person.

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9. Big tiger fish

This predatory freshwater fish, which is also called the giant hydrocin or goliath, and the locals - mbenga. The predator's mouth is armed with rare but impressive 32 fangs resembling crocodiles. She can easily not only bite the fishing line, but also the rod or hand of a careless angler. Goliath is not named so by chance - it is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, which can weigh up to 100 kilograms. This monster lives in Central Africa, in the Congo Basin and Lake Tanganyika. In the Congo, there have been cases of attacks by a river giant on people. Locals claim that the Mbenga is the only fish that is not afraid of the crocodile.

10. Vampire Haracin

Payar fish or characin live in the Amazon River basin. But she also has another sonorous name - "vampire" for two incredibly long lower fangs, with which she holds her prey (usually smaller fish). This fish is a coveted trophy for professional anglers. Adult fish grow in the vastness of the Amazon up to one and a half meters in length, but at the same time they weigh relatively little - 14 kilograms. The lower fangs, which gave the name “vampire” to the haracin, can grow up to 16 centimeters. With the help of such a formidable weapon, the fish is able to get to the deeply hidden internal organs of the attacked victim, since it accurately determines their location.

How diverse is the world of aquatic animals, among which the superclass Pisces stands out! Its representatives are characterized by gill breathing throughout life in postembryonic development. He studies their special section of zoology - ichthyology. Fish live both in the salty waters of the oceans and seas, and in freshwater areas. Among them are peaceful species and predators. The first feed on plant food. Predatory fish are usually omnivores. Their diet includes other animals. Among them are fish, mammals, birds. Among the freshwater predators of this class, the following can be distinguished: catfish, burbot, pike, zander, perch, grayling, asp, eel, etc. other.

How are predatory fish different?

What is the difference between peaceful fish species and predatory ones? First of all, in the diet. This was discussed above. And it is also known that predatory fish are distinguished by extraordinary greed and gluttony. Often they take so much food that they are not even able to digest it. Most predatory fish live in subtropical and tropical regions. This is due to the fact that much more mammals and herbivorous fish live in warm waters, which make up the main diet of carnivorous inhabitants of the deep sea. It is also worth noting the fact that predators are more intelligent than their victims. They are very resourceful. Here we can recall the white shark - the most dangerous for humans among sharks. Scientists are sure that she is much smarter than a domestic cat. This was proven by experiments in the Bahamas, where these predators were fed with automata. They quickly figured out which keys to press to make food appear.

Catfish - the largest freshwater predator among fish

Our reservoirs are home to many smart and fast carnivorous representatives of the class we are considering. These are pike, and burbot, and asp, and perch and many others. The common catfish is a scaleless predatory freshwater fish. The length of his body often reaches 5 meters, and weight - 400 kg. It lives, as a rule, in the rivers and lakes of the European part of our country. Some incorrectly believe that this large predatory fish feeds only on spoiled food and carrion. However, the catfish enjoys eating shellfish, freshwater animals and even birds. But its main prey is fish. Predator hunts at night. During the day it rests in deep pits and snags. Cases are described when a catfish attacked a person.

Evolution of underwater predators

The oceans are inhabited by a variety of creatures. Here, as on land, there is a constant struggle for survival. You need to get food, protect yourself and your children, and kill the enemy. In the course of evolution, predators have acquired powerful tools for hunting their prey. So, an animal called anglerfish from the Angler-like order has a kind of “antenna” with a growth imitating a worm in front of a huge mouth. During the hunt, this predatory sea fish shakes it, luring potential prey. As soon as an unsuspecting fish is nearby, the angler swiftly swallows it whole. Its habitual diet consists of red mullet, small sharks and even birds.

Moray eels, barracudas, stingrays. Dangerous inhabitants of the deep sea

The championship in terms of potential danger to humans in the ocean remains, of course, with sharks. They are able to inflict fatal wounds on swimmers with their powerful jaws. Bites of barracudas and moray eels can be no less dangerous for humans. These are large predatory fish found in many seas of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The largest species among moray eels can reach 3 meters. The powerful jaws of these fish are equipped with sharp awl-shaped teeth. When attacked, this animal hangs on its prey like a bulldog. Moray eel stings are not poisonous. There are bacteria on her teeth that can cause infection. In many species of these fish, the body is covered with poisonous mucus that negatively affects human skin.

Barracudas live in warm seas. Outwardly, they resemble large pikes. Rarely they reach 2 meters in length. Their jaws are equipped with large fangs. In the event of an attack, the victim receives lacerated wounds, which then become inflamed. These predators are dangerous to humans. There are known cases of barracuda attacks on humans. A flock of these large hunting predatory fish is especially dangerous.

Stingrays are extremely dangerous to humans. These are bottom animals. Just like that, they never attack, only in case of protection. If a diver inadvertently steps on such a slope, he will immediately receive a blow with his tail, on the basis of which there is a sharp spike. This can seriously injure a person and even kill.

The white shark is the most dangerous aquatic predator for humans.

Carcharodon is the second name of this dangerous inhabitant of the deep sea. The white shark is the largest predatory fish. Its length is often more than 6 meters, and its weight is 1900 kg. Its usual diet is other fish, including squid and dolphins, as well as marine mammals and birds. Very dangerous for humans. It is she who is credited with most cases. These predatory fish are on the verge of extinction.

The shark jaw compression force is 500 kg / cm 2. It only takes a few bites to dismember a human body. She can easily bite steel bars.
These predators do not feel pain. The body of the shark produces a substance similar in its action to opium.
The pregnancy of this fish lasts longer than that of a human or other animals, such as an elephant. So, she bears her cub for 3.5 years.
The predator can reach speeds of up to 50 km / h. Even bottom sharks are capable of moving at speeds up to 8 km/h. However, this fish does not know how to slow down.
reaches 12 meters, the smallest species is 15 cm.
The problem of desalination of the oceans is not terrible for these aquatic predators. The body of the shark produces a special substance that regulates the salinity of the water.
On the water, these fish keep at the expense of their large liver.
Sharks must constantly move in order to help their heart apparatus pump blood through the body. She cannot even sleep, otherwise she will suffocate or drown.
The sense of smell of a shark is one of the best on our planet.

Sailboat is the fastest fish in the world

Which of the marine predators moves the fastest? Of course, the sailfish. It belongs to the order Perciformes. As a rule, lives in warm seas. But some species can live in temperate latitudes. Its main distinguishing feature is the presence of a high and long fin on its back, resembling a sail. It is a very active predator. In pursuit of prey, he is able to reach speeds of up to 100 km / h. These fish feed mainly on sardines, mackerel, mackerel, anchovies and so on. Catching predatory fish is a very interesting activity for anglers. Often bait is used for this. Many anglers prefer to fish with a sailboat on a spinning rod.

Piranha is one of the most dangerous predatory fish.

Omnivorous, ready to tear to shreds in a matter of minutes everything that falls into its habitat. This is how we imagine piranha.

And what it really is, this predatory Piranha lives in the turbulent waters of the Amazon River. This is a small fish, only 20 cm long. The piranha has a keen sense of smell, as well as a large mouth dotted with a row of terrible flat teeth. Individuals keep in a flock, very voracious. They prefer to hunt in large groups. They often hide in hiding, waiting for unsuspecting prey. Attack quickly, lightning fast. Prey is eaten in a matter of seconds. The usual diet of a predator is fish, birds and mammals that come close to the water. This extremely aggressive river inhabitant has long attracted the attention of people. Several types of aquarium piranhas have now been bred. The most popular of them are: slender piranha, red pacu, common and moon metinnis and others.

deep sea predatory fish

It is difficult to imagine that there is also life at the great depths of the world's oceans. Here, in total darkness and under high water pressure, there are predators. As a rule, they are small in size. Their body is devoid of scales and covered only with thin skin. Deep-sea fish have a very bizarre body shape. And almost all of them are predators. This is evidenced by their terrible toothy mouths. Some species look like a huge head with a large mouth studded with rows of scary sharp teeth. Even the names of these outlandish inhabitants are very bizarre. The names of predatory fish that live at great depths: sack-throat fish, grammatostomy, galateatauma, bigmouth, hatchet, linophrine and others. These predators have adapted to live in unbearable conditions for other animals. With their huge mouths, they grab prey, even if it is larger than themselves, and swallow it whole.

Predators in the aquarium

Carnivorous representatives of the water depths have always attracted the attention of man. Many species of predatory fish have been domesticated. Now their dwarf types are bred in aquariums. The most popular among them are piranhas, girinocheilus, cichlids and others. And in captivity they manifest their natural instincts. This should be taken into account when breeding peaceful fish and predators in the same aquarium.

It is impossible to settle together species that are similar in habits and conditions of detention. You can't let them starve. From a lack of food, predatory aquarium fish can eat each other. It is very interesting to observe the behavior of cichlids. They have quite a lot of intelligence. These little fish love to watch everything that happens outside the aquarium. They are even able to recognize their owner, respond to some of his movements. The snakehead is another domesticated predator. His appearance is very colorful. He is able to do without water for a long time. Piranhas in captivity are more shy than aggressive. With every loud knock or blow on the glass of the aquarium, they sink to the bottom and convulse. In order for these fish to coexist with peaceful species, they must be provided with complete food.

We were convinced of how diverse the world of predatory fish is both in freshwater reservoirs and in the depths of the sea.

Zebra Lionfish

Lionfish zebra - predatory fish that live in the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans - off the coast of China, Japan and Australia. They are one of the most beautiful fish in the world. Their body length is about 30 cm, weight reaches 1 kg. The lionfish has long ribbons of dorsal and pectoral fins, in which sharp poisonous needles are hidden. The injection with this needle is very painful. A sharp pain is followed by a deterioration in the condition, which ends with paralysis of the skeletal and respiratory muscles. If the victim is not immediately pulled ashore, he will drown.

The electric eel is a fish (despite the name) that inhabits rivers in northeastern South America, as well as tributaries of the Amazon. They are found in countries such as Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela. The average length of adults is 1–1.5 m, the largest known specimen reached almost three meters in length. Average weight - up to 20 kg (maximum - 45 kg). An electric eel is capable of generating a discharge of current with a voltage of 300–650 V and a force of 0.1–1 A. Such a voltage is not capable of killing a person, but it will be very painful.

Big tiger fish - a species of large freshwater predatory fish that live in central and western Africa, in the basin of the Congo and Lualaba rivers, as well as in lakes Upemba and Tanganyika. This fish grows up to 1.5 m in length and reaches a weight of 50 kg. In the Congo, there have been cases of attacks by large tiger fish on humans. According to local residents, this is the only fish that is not afraid of crocodiles.

Bagarius yarrelli is a species of large fish found in the rivers of South Asia. They are found in countries such as Bangladesh, India, China (Yunnan Province) and Nepal. It grows up to 2 m in length and weighs over 90 kg. In three villages on the banks of the Sarda River in Nepal and India, between 1998 and 2007, cases of attacks by these fish on people were reported, which often ended in death.

The sixth place in the list of the most dangerous fish is occupied by the Brown Snakehead - a species of large freshwater predatory fish living in the waters of Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and India. Grow in length up to 1.3 meters and weigh up to 20 kg. They are quite greedy and aggressive. Prey is ambushed.

In fifth place on the list of the most dangerous fish in the world is the wart, a predatory sea fish with poisonous spikes on its back. The average length of the wart is 35–50 cm. It lives in coral reefs at depths of about 30 m in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is considered the most poisonous fish in the world. Its venom causes severe pain, shock, paralysis and leads to tissue death. For humans, a large dose of poison can be fatal.

Piranha - freshwater predominantly predatory fish (more than 50 species) that live in the rivers and reservoirs of South America. Reach a length of up to 30 cm and a weight of up to a kilogram. Approximately 30–35 species of piranhas feed on aquatic plants and fruits that have fallen into the water, while 28–30 species are typical predators. They have powerful jaws with sharp teeth. They attack fish and other animals, including humans. The structure of the lower jaw and teeth allows piranhas to snatch large pieces of meat from prey. A flock of piranhas in a few minutes is capable of completely destroying an animal weighing about 50 kg.

The brown puffer is a species of marine fish from the pufferfish family. They live in the marine and brackish waters of the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Grow up to 80 cm in length. Its insides (especially the liver and ovaries) are extremely poisonous and contain tetrodotoxin, which, even in small doses, is deadly to humans. Despite this, it is from this fish that the traditional Japanese dish Fugu is most often prepared. Between 2004 and 2007, 15 people died and about 115 people were hospitalized after eating the delicacy.

The most dangerous fish in the world is the mackerel hydrolic or "vampire fish" - a species of predatory fish that lives in the Amazon and Orinoco river basins in Venezuela. They can grow up to 117 cm in length and weigh 17.8 kg. The most famous feature of the vampire fish is its aggressiveness and two long fangs protruding from the lower jaw. These fangs can reach a length of 10–15 cm. The mackerel hydrolic feeds on almost any fish that is smaller in size, including piranhas and their own kind.

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