Underwater predators. Predatory fish. Names, descriptions and features of predatory fish The largest predator in the ocean
The barracuda is the top model of the tropical oceans: long, up to two meters, thin and graceful. Who would have thought that this beauty is just a killing machine. Barracudas hunt in schools, reach speeds of up to 45 km/h and are absolutely not afraid of anyone. Their teeth are miniature shark jaws.
A barracuda can easily attack a person, but not out of malice: in muddy water or at night, it mistakes our arms and legs for fish that can be eaten. She is also attracted to shiny objects - watches, knives, tools. Remember, barracuda is the top of its food chain, with a hunting experience of 50 million years. If you decide to scuba dive in her domain, be polite and careful.
Striped Tang
Cavity surgeon / Photo: wikimedia The striped tang is a very beautiful fish. Small, up to 40 cm in length, it lives in the Pacific and Indian oceans. The fish has yellow-blue stripes on its sides, its belly is blue with an orange fin. When you look at it, your hand reaches out to touch it. You shouldn’t do this: at the tips of the surgeon’s tail there are scalpel-sharp plates, which are also poisonous.
Remember that there are 1,200 species of poisonous fish in the ocean, which affect up to 50,000 people a year. However, dangerous fish compensate for the damage caused - they are indispensable in the development of new drugs.
Yellow sea anemone
Yellow sea anemone / Photo: cepolina Don't pick flowers for your loved one at the bottom of the sea. If only because these are not flowers at all. Sea anemones look like a hybrid of a tulip and a peon, reaching a meter in diameter. They live in the tropics and subtropics. In their youth, anemones are attached with their “sole” to solid ground and can no longer move. Never mind, they will still get you: the anemones instantly release tentacles that pierce the fish carelessly swimming nearby. A paralyzing neurotoxin renders the victim immobile. All that remains for the anemone is to drag it to its mouth, grab it with its labial tentacles and eat it. The man, of course, is too large to become lunch, but he is guaranteed a painful burn.
Moray eel
Moray eel / Photo: davyjoneslocker The moray eel is a fearsome underwater snake up to three meters in length, with a rock-hard crest on its back. Lives in tropical and temperate waters. It looks like it has a small mouth, but in fact it is capable of opening its mouth so wide, swallowing its prey, that it simply cannot do this in its cave. Yawning so much that you can’t even fit into your home is a record.
However, the moray eel does not like to leave the cave, so it does something simpler: it has two rows of toothy jaws, and the second row suddenly moves forward to grab the prey that swims past the doors. It's like a horror movie, isn't it? The surrounding fish know that it is better not to swim onto the “staircase” of the eel, so at night he still has to leave the house to hunt.
Toadfish
Toadfish / Photo: wikimedia It's hard to imagine a creature uglier than a toad fish. Her huge head is flattened, her mouth is stretched to her ears, and her whole body is covered with growths. Only its small size saves us from fainting: up to half a meter in length and no more than three kilograms of live weight. At the same time, the toadfish is very peaceful: it sits quietly on the bottom, blending in color with it for camouflage purposes, and waits for unwary squids and shrimp. Powerful jaws crunch through the shells of crabs and oysters.
The toadfish defends its territory by making a sound similar to a grinding or honking sound and exhibiting poisonous spines. Respect personal space and you will not have problems with her. But as luck would have it, this fish lives in the western part of the Atlantic, including near the “white beaches” of the resort state of Florida. Hundreds of swimmers jump out of the water screaming, having stumbled upon a poisonous thorn, and are sent straight to the hospital.
Great white shark
Great white shark / Photo: Alamy The white shark needs no introduction. Even those who have never seen the sea know that this fish is a cannibal. Up to six meters in length, it can weigh more than two tons. To her, a person is just a slice of bacon. To bite through that slice, the white shark has 300 teeth, immortalized by Spielberg in the movie Jaws.
Luckily, humans don't seem tasty to the shark. She likes dolphins, seals, fur seals and turtles much more. When the mood strikes, the white shark feasts on carrion: the carcass of a dead whale is a whole banquet for it. Sometimes she eats other sharks - yes, she is a cannibal not only because she eats people. It is found in all oceans except the Arctic Ocean, but is on the verge of extinction: there are about 3,500 individuals left in the world.
Cone snail
Cone snail / Photo: wikimedia The small cone snail not only looks harmless - it makes you want to take it home as a souvenir. The correct cone-shaped shape especially attracts attention. An unwary tourist takes the snail in his hand, and the cone, torn out of its usual environment, begins to defend itself. A poisonous thorn is used, which shoots like a dart from a snail's snout. The souvenir comes at a high price: the poison from the cone is deadly to humans, and every third victim does not make it to the hospital.
The cone has an excellent sense of smell - it is able to follow the trail of a victim for hours. Usually the snail hunts mollusks or small fish, which, of course, are faster than the cone itself, but slower than its harpoon, which can hit a target at a distance of a meter. In times of famine, cone snails eat their own kind without sentimentality - yes, they are also cannibals.
Indonesian pipefish
Indonesian needlefish / Photo: David Doubilet Everyone knows what a needle fish is: a thin, nimble predator up to 60 cm long, so flexible that it can be tied in a knot. A distinctive feature is the muzzle, elongated in the shape of a needle and full of sharp teeth. Some species of needlefish feel great in the Black Sea and quite friendly avoid divers.
The Indonesian needlefish is also quite peaceful - while it is under water. However, she has a habit of jumping out of the water into the fresh air, where she immediately turns into a throwing dagger, only a very angry one. This is not to say that the needle does this often. But when she does, for the person who has become her target, it all ends with severe injuries or death. The needle digs into the body, easily biting through the artery. It takes a lot of courage for Indonesian fishermen to go out fishing at night - in the dark, the lights on the boats attract fish and provoke an attack.
Saltwater crocodile
Saltwater crocodile / Photo: wikimedia The saltwater crocodile is better known as the saltwater crocodile because it lives in salt water. But its most telling name is the man-eating crocodile. This is the largest living predator on the planet - it reaches seven meters in length and can weigh more than two tons. It lives in estuaries and coastal waters throughout Southeast Asia and northern Australia, and is the most widespread crocodile in the world.
The saltwater crocodile is extremely aggressive. Huge six-meter males love to organize fights without rules - brutal fights that end in the death of the enemy. This predator hunts alone and eats everything it can handle - and it can handle absolutely everything that lives in its habitat. Another favorite sport is jumping up above the surface of the water. A crocodile can throw almost its entire body out of the water - two tons! - pushing off the bottom with his tail. He is a cannibal - he even eats representatives of his own species, and even snacks on other crocodiles without counting. I don’t even want to think about human victims: the jaws of a saltwater crocodile bite through people like marshmallows, and it’s good if you die quickly.
Hairy cyanea
Hairy cyanea / Photo: masterok Cyanea is very similar to the colorful jellyfish that we were all afraid of as children. But as people grow, so do their fears: it is tens of times larger than an ordinary jellyfish. Its “cap” reaches two meters in diameter, and its thick tentacles extend up to 30 meters. Another name for cyanea - “lion's mane” - well reflects its appearance. The dense network of poisonous tentacles of a jellyfish perfectly catches small fish, plankton, and smaller jellyfish. Paralyzed by poison, they become easy prey.
Cyanea is often found in the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic and Baltic Sea. In one of his stories, Arthur Conan Doyle made the jellyfish a killer of people, giving it a bad reputation. We are happy to report that this is not at all true: cyanea is not capable of killing a person, unless it causes serious skin damage. If you have a durable wetsuit and enough courage, you can swim with the beautiful sea monster without risking your life.
Predators of the underwater world include fish, whose diet includes other inhabitants of water bodies, as well as birds and some animals. The world of predatory fish is diverse: from terrifying specimens to attractive aquarium specimens. What they have in common is the possession of a large mouth with sharp teeth for catching prey.
A feature of predators is unbridled greed, excessive gluttony. Ichthyologists note the special intelligence of these creatures of nature and ingenuity. The struggle for survival contributed to the development of abilities that predatory fish superior even to cats and dogs.
Marine predatory fish
The vast majority of marine fish of predatory families live in tropical and subtropical zones. This is explained by the presence in these climatic zones of a huge variety of herbivorous fish and warm-blooded mammals that make up the diet of predators.
Shark
Unconditional leadership takes white predatory fish shark, the most insidious for humans. The length of its carcass is 11 m. Its relatives of 250 species also pose a potential danger, although attacks by 29 representatives of their families have been officially recorded. The safest is the shark - a giant, up to 15 m long, feeding on plankton.
Other species, larger than 1.5-2 meters, are insidious and dangerous. Among them:
- Tiger shark;
- hammerhead shark (large outgrowths with eyes on the sides of the head);
- mako shark;
- katran (sea dog);
- gray shark;
- spotted shark scyllium.
In addition to sharp teeth, fish are equipped with prickly spines and hard skin. Cuts and blows are no less dangerous than bites. Wounds inflicted by large sharks are fatal in 80% of cases. The jaw strength of predators reaches 18 tf. With its bites it can dismember a person into pieces.
Pictured is a rockfish
Scorpena (Sea Ruff)
Predatory bottom fish. The body, compressed on the sides, is variegatedly colored and protected by spines and shoots for camouflage. A real monster with bulging eyes and thick lips. It lives in the thickets of the coastal zone, no deeper than 40 meters, and winters at great depths.
It is very difficult to notice it at the bottom. The food supply includes crustaceans, greenfinches, and silversides. Doesn't rush after prey. He waits for her to come closer, then he throws him into his mouth. It lives in the waters of the Black and Azov Seas, the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
Oshiben (galeya)
A medium-sized fish, 25-40 cm long, with an oblong body of a dirty color and very small scales. A bottom predator that spends time in the sand during the day and goes out hunting at night. The food contains mollusks, worms, crustaceans, small fish. Features include pelvic fins on the chin and a special swim bladder.
Atlantic cod
Large individuals up to 1-1.5 m long, weighing 50-70 kg. It lives in the temperate zone and forms a number of subspecies. The color is green with an olive tint, with brown inclusions. The basis of nutrition is herring, capelin, cod, and mollusks.
They feed their own young and small relatives. Atlantic cod are characterized by seasonal migrations over long distances of up to 1.5 thousand km. A number of subspecies have adapted to live in desalinated seas.
Pacific cod
It is distinguished by a massive head shape. The average length does not exceed 90 cm, weight 25 kg. Lives in the northern zones of the Pacific Ocean. The diet includes pollock, shrimp, and octopus. A sedentary stay in a body of water is typical.
Catfish
Marine representative of the genus Perciformes. The name was received for the front teeth, similar to those of a dog, fangs protruding from the mouth. The body is eel-shaped, up to 125 cm long, weighing on average 18-20 kg.
It lives in moderately cold waters, near rocky soils, where its food supply is located. In behavior, the fish is aggressive even towards its relatives. The diet includes jellyfish, crustaceans, small fish, and shellfish.
Pink salmon
A representative of small salmon, with an average length of 70 cm. The habitat of pink salmon is extensive: the northern regions of the Pacific Ocean, entering the Arctic Ocean. Pink salmon are a representative of anadromous fish that migrate to fresh waters to spawn. Therefore, small salmon are known in all the rivers of the Northern, on the Asian mainland, Sakhalin and other places.
The fish got its name from its dorsal hump. Characteristic dark stripes appear on the body before spawning. The diet is based on crustaceans, small fish, and fry.
Eel-pout
An unusual inhabitant of the coasts of the Baltic, White and Barents seas. A bottom-dwelling fish whose preferences are sand overgrown with algae. Very tenacious. It can wait among the wet stones for the tide or hide in a hole.
The appearance resembles a small animal, up to 35 cm in size. Large head, body tapers to a sharp tail. The eyes are large and protruding. The pectoral fins look like two fans. Scales like those of a lizard, but do not overlap the next one. The eelpout feeds on small fish, gastropods, worms, and larvae.
Brown (eight-lined) greenling
Found near rocky headlands on the Pacific coast. The name refers to the color with green and brown shades. Another option was obtained for a complex drawing. The meat is green. The diet, like many predators, includes crustaceans. There are many relatives in the greenling family:
- Japanese;
- Steller's greenling (spotted);
- red;
- single-line;
- single-feathered;
- long-browed and others.
Names of predatory fish often convey their external features.
Gloss
Found in warm coastal waters. The length of the flat fish is 15-20 cm. In appearance, the glossa is compared to river flounder; it is adapted to live in water of varying salinity. It feeds on bottom food - mollusks, worms, crustaceans.
Glossa fish
Beluga
Among predators, this fish is one of the largest relatives. The species is listed in Krasnaya. The peculiarity of the structure of the skeleton is the elastic cartilaginous chord and the absence of vertebrae. The size reaches 4 meters and weight – from 70 kg to 1 ton.
It is found in the Caspian and Black Seas, and during spawning in large rivers. The characteristic wide mouth, overhanging thick lip, and 4 large antennae are characteristic of the beluga. The uniqueness of the fish lies in its longevity; its age can reach a century.
Eats fish. Under natural conditions, it forms hybrid varieties with sturgeon, stellate sturgeon, and sterlet.
Sturgeon
Large predator, up to 6 meters long. The average weight of commercial fish is 13-16 kg, although giants reach 700-800 kg. The body is highly elongated, without scales, covered with rows of bony scutes.
The head is small, the mouth is located below. It feeds on bottom organisms and fish, providing itself with 85% protein food. Tolerates low temperatures and periods of lack of food well. Lives in salt and freshwater bodies of water.
Stellate sturgeon
The characteristic appearance is due to the elongated shape of the nose, the length of which reaches 60% of the length of the head. Stellar sturgeon is inferior in size to other sturgeons - the average weight of the fish is only 7-10 kg, length 130-150 cm. Like its relatives, it is a long-liver among fish, living 35-40 years.
Lives in the Caspian and Azov seas with migration to large rivers. The basis of nutrition is crustaceans and worms.
Flounder
The sea predator is easy to distinguish by its flat body, eyes located on one side, and a circular fin. She has almost forty varieties:
- star-shaped;
- yellowfin;
- halibut-shaped;
- proboscis;
- linear;
- long-snouted, etc.
Distributed from the Arctic Circle to Japan. Adapted to live on muddy bottoms. Hunts from ambush for crustaceans, shrimp, and small fish. The sighted side is characterized by mimicry. But if you startle it, it abruptly breaks away from the bottom, swims to a safe place and lies on the blind side.
Lichia
A large sea predator from the horse mackerel family. Found in the Black and Mediterranean Seas, the eastern Atlantic, and the southwestern Indian Ocean. Grows up to 2 meters with a weight gain of up to 50 kg. Lihi's prey includes herring, sardines in the water column and crustaceans in the bottom layers.
Whiting
A predatory schooling fish with a stagnate body. The color is gray, with a purple tint on the back. Found in the Kerch Strait, the Black Sea. Loves cold waters. By the movement of anchovy, you can monitor the appearance of whiting.
Whip
Inhabits the coastal waters of the Azov and Black Seas. Up to 40 cm long and weighing up to 600 g. The body is flattened, often covered with spots. Open gills increase the size of the deprived head and frighten predators. Among rocky and sandy soils it hunts with shrimps, mussels, and small fish.
River predatory fish
Freshwater predators are well known to fishermen. This is not only a commercial river catch, known to cooks and housewives. The role of insatiable inhabitants of reservoirs is to eat low-value weeds and diseased individuals. Predatory freshwater fish carry out a kind of sanitary cleaning of reservoirs.
Chub
A picturesque inhabitant of Central Russian reservoirs. Dark green back, golden sides, dark border along the scales, orange fins. Loves to eat fish fry, larvae, and crustaceans.
Asp
The fish is called a horse for its quick jumping out of the water and deafening falls on its prey. The blows with the tail and body are so strong that small fish become stiff. The fishermen nicknamed the predator the river corsair. Keeps to himself. The main prey is bleak floating on the surface of reservoirs. Lives in large reservoirs, rivers, and southern seas.
Som
The largest predator without scales, reaching a length of 5 meters and a weight of 400 kg. Favorite habitats are the waters of the European part of Russia. The main food of catfish is shellfish, fish, small freshwater inhabitants and birds. It hunts at night and spends the day in holes and under snags. Catching a catfish is a difficult task, as the predator is strong and smart
Pike
A real predator in habits. It attacks everything, even its relatives. But it gives preference to roach, crucian carp, and rudd. Does not like prickly ruff and perch. It catches and waits until the prey calms down before swallowing.
Hunts frogs, birds, mice. It is distinguished by fast growth and good camouflage. It grows on average up to 1.5 meters and weighs up to 35 kg. Sometimes there are giants as tall as human beings.
Zander
Large predator of large and clean rivers. The weight of a meter-long fish reaches 10-15 kg, sometimes more. Found in sea waters. Unlike other predators, the mouth and throat are small, so small fish serve as food. Avoids thickets so as not to become prey for pike. Active in hunting.
Predatory fish pike perch
Burbot
Belonesox
Small predators are not afraid to attack even comparable fish, which is why they are called miniature pikes. Gray-brown color with black spots like a line. The diet includes live food from small fish. If the whitefish is well-fed, then the prey will be alive until the next lunch.
Tiger perch
A large fish with a contrasting color, up to 50 cm long. The body shape resembles an arrowhead. The fin on the back extends to the tail, with which it provides acceleration in pursuit of prey. The color is yellow with black stripes along the diagonal. The diet should include bloodworms, shrimp, and earthworms.
Livingston cichlid
Video of predatory fish reflect the unique mechanism of ambush hunting. They occupy the position of a dead fish and withstand a sudden attack of emerging prey for a long time.
The length of the cichlid is up to 25 cm, the spotted color varies in yellow-blue-silver tones. A red-orange border runs along the edge of the fins. The food in the aquarium is pieces of shrimp, fish, etc. Don't overfeed.
Toadfish
The appearance is unusual; the huge head and growths on the body are surprising. Thanks to camouflage, the bottom inhabitant hides among snags and roots and waits for the prey to approach to attack. In the aquarium it feeds on bloodworms, shrimp, pollock or other fish. Loves solo content.
Leaf fish
A unique adaptation to a fallen leaf. Camouflage helps to guard prey. The size of the individual does not exceed 10 cm. The yellowish-brown color helps to imitate the drifting of a fallen tree leaf. The daily diet includes 1-2 fish.
Biara
Suitable for keeping in large aquariums only. The length of individuals is up to 80 cm. The species is a real predator with a large head and a mouth full of sharp teeth. Large fins on the abdomen look like wings. It feeds only on live fish.
Tetra vampire
In an aquarium environment it grows up to 30 cm, in nature – up to 45 cm. The ventral fins look like wings. They help make quick dashes for prey. When swimming, the head is down. Live fish may be abandoned in the diet in favor of pieces of meat and mussels.
Aravana
A representative of the oldest fish up to 80 cm in size. An elongated body with fins forming a fan. This structure gives acceleration in hunting and the ability to jump. The structure of the mouth allows it to grab prey from the surface of the water. You can feed shrimp, fish, and worms in the aquarium.
Trahira (Tertha-wolf)
Amazon Legend. Aquarium maintenance is available to experienced specialists. Grows up to half a meter. Gray powerful body with a large head and sharp teeth. Fish feed not only on live food, but also serve as a kind of orderly. In an artificial reservoir it feeds on shrimp, mussels, and pieces of fish.
frog catfish
A large predator with a massive head and a huge mouth. The short antennae are notable. Dark body color and whitish belly. Grows up to 25 cm. Accepts food from fish with white meat, shrimp, mussels.
Dimidochromis
A beautiful blue-orange predator. Develops speed and attacks with powerful jaws. Grows up to 25 cm. The body is flattened on the sides, the back has a round contour, the belly is flat. Fish smaller than a predator will certainly become its food. Shrimp, mussels, and clams are added to the diet.
All predatory fish in the wild and artificially kept are carnivorous. The diversity of species and habitats is shaped by many years of history and the struggle for survival in the aquatic environment. The natural balance assigns them the role of orderlies, leaders with the inclinations of cunning and ingenuity, who do not allow the dominance of trash fish in any body of water.
Marine animals are very diverse. These include both huge giant whales and microscopic plankton. Captures the diversity of the inhabitants of the deep sea.
Photos of whales
The largest animals in the sea are whales. However, not only at sea, but also on land, whales have no equal in size.
In total, there are about 130 species of whales left on Earth, and approximately 40 extinct species of whales are known. Depending on the species, the length of whales ranges from 2 to 25 meters. The world's largest species is the blue whale.
Whales live in all oceans and almost all seas of our planet. In northern waters, whales thrive thanks to a thick layer of blubber.
Most whales feed on small fish and plankton. But there is also a more predatory species of whale that hunts large animals - the killer whale. This is one of the most beautiful whales.
Although killer whales are similar in appearance to dolphins, they are very different from them. The most noticeable distinguishing feature of killer whales is their contrasting black and white coloration.
Killer whales hunt for everything they can catch and are quite voracious. If killer whales lead a sedentary lifestyle, they feed on fish and small sea animals. Migrating killer whales can even attack sperm whales. There are known cases of killer whales attacking a herd of elk crossing a pond.
Photos of sharks
Another type of large marine predator is sharks. These are basically large predatory fish, which for billions of years have practically not changed their appearance in the process of evolution.
Like whales, sharks live in almost all oceans and seas. There are sharks that feed on fish, but there is also a species that feeds on plankton - the whale shark.
Photo of moray eel
Another genus of marine predatory fish is moray eels. They live in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, the Mediterranean and Red Seas.
Moray eels can be confused with snakes; they are very similar in appearance. But the appearance of moray eels is very disgusting, although there are terrible lovers of these fish.
In ancient European mythology, the moray eel became the prototype of huge sea monsters. Some ancients believed that moray eels are juvenile sea monsters; when they grow up, they swim far into the ocean.
Photos of dolphins
Probably the most beloved sea animals by people are dolphins. There are also many types of them in different sizes. Dolphins accompany various ships and bring joy to people with their jumps from the water.
Dolphins are mammals, not fish.
The life of dolphins in captivity is halved, but in the wild they live up to 50 years. Probably melancholy and despondency in captivity oppresses them.
Dolphins love to communicate with people; they are kind and social animals by nature. but these sea animals are tactful and never impose themselves.
Photos of seals
Seals live in the northern seas and oceans. These are carnivorous pinnipeds that establish colonies on coastal rocks. Such places serve as a refuge for them from predators.
Their main food is fish, but they do not mind eating shrimp or other crustaceans and mollusks.
See.
One of the most voracious seals is the leopard seal.
This species of seal got its name because of the unique shape of the male’s nose and because of its enormous size. Males of this species can reach six meters in length and weigh more than four tons.
Another large species of seal lives in the north of Russia - the bearded seal. The largest sea hares weigh 360 kg.
But despite its size, the bearded seal can become prey for a polar bear.
Photo of a walrus
Other pinnipeds that inhabit the seas are walruses. They have powerful tusks.
Only males have tusks. They use them as weapons during fights for females during the mating season.
Walruses can fend for themselves, as they are very large animals. But killer whales and polar bears are a threat to them.
Let's finish with pinnipeds and move on to mollusks.
Octopus photo
“Eight legs” is what this sea creature was called in ancient Greece. And the octopus lives up to its name.
Octopuses inhabit tropical and subtropical seas. In total there are more than 200 species.
Octopuses are able to change their color to camouflage themselves from other predators and use camouflage to wait for their prey. They can even take on the appearance of a predator and copy its behavior.
Photo of cuttlefish
The cuttlefish, like the octopus, is a cephalopod.
The cuttlefish has a beak-like mouth. It's hard to see behind the tentacles in the photo, but believe me, it can bite through a crab's shell.
Like octopuses, cuttlefish can change color and blend into an area in order to hide from an enemy or lie in ambush.
In total, approximately 30 species of cuttlefish are known. The smallest species measures 1.5-1.8 centimeters.
Photo of squid
Squids are another cephalopod. Squids inhabit all seas and oceans, including the northern ones. Northern species of squid are somewhat smaller and are often colorless. Other species also rarely have bright colors.
It is unknown how many species of squid live on our planet. Many species live at great depths, which makes them difficult to study.
Typically, the size of squid is 25 - 50 cm. But there is a unique species - the giant squid, its size can reach 18 meters. Some deep-sea species of squid are able to glow, so they attract prey in the pitch darkness of the deep sea.
Many types of squid have wing fins on their sides. These organs act as a balancer when swimming, and using them the squid can accelerate and jump out of the water to escape a predator.
Photos of crabs
From cephalopods we move on to crabs. These are representatives of the class Crustaceans.
These marine animals have five pairs of paws, one of which has evolved into claws. A crab can lose a claw in a fight, but it then grows back, like the tail of a lizard.
There are many types of crabs and they are very diverse in size and color. Different species feed completely differently; the diet may consist of algae, crustaceans, small fish or mollusks.
Lobster photo
Large crustaceans live in the oceans and seas: lobsters and lobsters. Lobsters are similar to regular crayfish, only they have larger claws.
Basically, the color of different types of lobsters is very simple, camouflage. This is caused by the presence of a large number of enemies in these animals. But sometimes there are mutant individuals with an unusual color.
This is a blue lobster, a very rare specimen. One in two million lobsters has this color. Yellow, red, white or two-color lobsters are even more rare.
Photos of lobsters
Another large crustacean is lobsters. These crustaceans prefer warm waters, unlike lobsters, which are also found in cold waters.
Lobsters do not live at depths greater than 200 meters. They try to settle in places where they can find refuge. Many predators do not mind eating lobster.
Lobsters are loners. Lobsters spend their entire lives, except for the breeding season, in solitude, without communicating with members of their genus.
Marine animals also include seabirds. For example, penguins are unique seabirds that live in the Southern Hemisphere.
Penguins live not only in Antarctica. There are large colonies of these birds in southern Australia and South America.
There are 18 known species of penguins. They are different in size, there are some differences in color. but the main color is contrasting black and white.
The world's oceans are home to a wide variety of predators. Some wait for their prey in cover and suddenly attack when it has lost its vigilance, while others are able to develop breakneck speed while pursuing prey. But they are all one of the links in the food chain: a small predator, in turn, becomes the prey of a larger one. And only sharks and killer whales, standing at the top of the food pyramid, do not have natural enemies in the water element.
Shark
The shark is one of the oldest predators on Earth. There are about two hundred and fifty species of sharks in nature, but only a few of them attack humans. White and tiger sharks are the most aggressive and voracious of all sharks. They have three rows of serrated teeth. Having bitten its prey, this ferocious predator begins to shake its head from side to side, while its teeth, like a saw, cut the flesh.
The formidable ruler of the deep sea is not a fish at all, but a mammal. The killer whale is a killing machine. An adult male reaches a length of ten meters and can weigh up to seven tons.
killer whale
The killer whale is the most dangerous and downright virtuoso underwater predator. This animal is distributed in cold and temperate waters of almost the entire World Ocean. Killer whales are omnivores: they feed on both small fish and large sea animals, especially pinnipeds. This daring predator even attacks giant whales. The most spectacular method of hunting is to throw killer whales ashore on sea lion rookeries. A sharp dorsal fin, blackening above the surface of the water, is a menacing signal of an approaching hunter.
sea anemone
Anemone, or sea anemone, looks like a flower that grows on the seabed. In fact, it is a living creature, a coral, which needs food in order to exist. Not all types of sea anemones are able to move along the bottom; most are motionless attached to it and are forced to wait for small fish or small invertebrates to swim up to them. Anemones paralyze their prey with poison from thread-like organs, and then pull food to their mouths with tentacles.
Angler
This fish got its name because of its very unattractive appearance. The monkfish's head is huge and flat, all covered with spines, its large mouth is filled with three rows of sharp curved teeth, and its fins look like paws. The long, free-standing fin on the head is like an antenna; the monkfish uses it as bait for small fish and fry, which it feeds on. The predator hides in ambush at the bottom, buried in the sand. Only a long fin protrudes above the surface, which lures the prey and then directs it directly into the mouth of a hungry hunter.
Octopus
Octopuses feed on small fish and crustaceans. The hunting tactics of the octopus are very diverse, which is due to the characteristics of this amazing animal. The octopus's brain volume is very large. It has eight tentacles covered with many suckers. He has excellent eyesight and an enviable talent for camouflage. This makes the octopus one of the most dangerous marine predators.
Pike
In rivers and lakes there is pike, which is not without reason called the river shark. In its natural habitat it has no worthy rivals. This fish is aggressive and voracious, and is large in size (adults reach a weight of fifteen kilograms). Hiding among the bottom algae, the predator waits for its prey, and then suddenly pounces on it.
Starfish
The most terrible enemy of bivalves is the starfish. The multi-legged predator grabs the mollusk and uses strong tentacles with suction cups to open the shell's valves. Then she pushes out part of her stomach, with which she envelops the inside of the shell. The food, already dissolved by gastric juice, is sucked into the mouth of the predator.
Which predatory animals are the largest and most dangerous? Most people probably think of lions and tigers first, but these predators are just babies compared to the really big predators that live on our planet. So, in this post - about the largest and most dangerous predatory animals.
First of all, it is worth dividing predators by habitat. It is clear that marine predators living in water can grow larger than their land-based competitors. But it is impossible to make a clear division here. For example, sharks can attack not only the inhabitants of the sea, but also such completely land animals as deer, horses and bears. On the other hand, many land predators prey on sea creatures. Finally, there are many predators that lead a semi-aquatic lifestyle; they can be found both at sea and on land.
The largest sea predators
The record holder among marine predators and generally the largest predator in the world is the sperm whale. Sperm whales are huge marine mammals from the order Cetaceans. Modern sperm whales reach 20 m in length and weigh up to 50 tons.
The sperm whale is the largest predator on Earth
Sperm whales live in all areas of the world's oceans and feed mainly on fish and cephalopods. Despite the fact that sperm whales breathe air, they can dive to a depth of 3 km, remaining under water for up to an hour and a half.
How dangerous are sperm whales? The sperm whale is the only predator that can swallow a person whole without even chewing. Nevertheless, sperm whales are not the first to attack people; a scuba diver can swim next to a huge sperm whale without fear. Unfortunately, man himself, as soon as he mastered navigation, began to exterminate marine life, taking up hunting, including sperm whales. And the sperm whales showed the whalers that they were by no means helpless victims. They themselves responded by attacking whaling ships, ramming and even sinking them. Even for modern sea vessels, sperm whales are dangerous.
Another large, smart and effective marine predator from the cetacean order is killer whale. Killer whales are not dangerous to people and do not attack them, but many marine inhabitants are not given a single chance.
Killer whales reach a length of 10 m and can weigh up to 8 tons. They live throughout the world's oceans and mainly hunt fish and seals. Killer whales often hunt in packs; they surround and drive victims, pressing them to the shore or surface of the water. You can understand how dangerous killer whales are from the fact that they even attack large whales and sharks.
The most dangerous and largest predatory fish is, of course, White shark. Great white sharks reach a length of 6 m and a weight of about 2 tons. The white shark is a dangerous and aggressive predator; it often attacks everything that moves, testing buoys, boards and other floating objects. Dozens of swimmers and surfers have been attacked by white sharks.
Over hundreds of millions of years of evolution, these dangerous predators have developed many unique adaptations. For example, sharks have a unique sense of smell, sensing the smell of blood from kilometers away, sensing the slightest temperature changes and even electromagnetic fields. Sharks are not at risk of caries - in addition to the fact that their teeth (of which there are about 300) are very strong, they grow and are renewed throughout their lives.
The largest semi-aquatic predators
There are many animals that can stay for a long time both on land and in the sea. Among them there are also large predators, the largest of which are southern elephant seals. The southern elephant seal lives in the seas of the southern hemisphere, mainly in Antarctica.
Southern elephant seals reach a length of 6 m and weigh up to 5 tons. They hunt mainly for marine life, feeding on fish and squid. Despite their size, these predators are usually not dangerous to humans.
Another thing - saltwater crocodiles. The saltwater crocodile, also known as the saltwater crocodile, is the world's largest species of crocodile and a very dangerous and aggressive predator.
These crocodiles can reach a length of 7 m and weigh up to 2 tons. They are able to spend a lot of time at sea, swimming thousands of kilometers. Saltwater crocodiles hunt both land and sea animals, without being very picky. They even attack sharks and elephants.
How dangerous saltwater crocodiles are can be judged by an episode that occurred in February 1945. At this time, the British were trying to capture a Japanese base on an island off the coast of Burma. But to defend the island, the Japanese deployed a detachment of 1215 selected soldiers. Then the English suggested luring the Japanese detachment into the mangrove swamps where saltwater crocodiles lived. The plan worked brilliantly - the crocodiles attacked the Japanese who carelessly entered the swamp, and almost the entire detachment was soon exterminated. Only 20 soldiers managed to escape.
The largest land predators
Of the predators living on land, the largest are bears. The biggest of all bears - polar bear, living in the Arctic.
Polar bears reach a length of 3 m and a weight of up to 1000 kg. These predators mainly hunt seals and fish. Polar bears pose a moderate danger to people, although they are not usually the first to attack.
The largest species of brown bears is kodiak- lives in Alaska and is almost as big as a polar bear.
These bears are omnivores, feeding on both plant and animal foods, especially preferring fish that are caught in rivers during the spawning period.
Large predators, of course, sometimes attack people, but they are by no means the most dangerous among animals. Rather, the largest predators themselves need protection from humans today. The most terrible and dangerous animal that you really need to be afraid of actually looks different. Here it is:
Malaria mosquito is only about 6 mm in size and weighs approximately 2 milligrams. But these dangerous insects kill many times more people than all sharks, crocodiles and other large predators combined. WHO estimates that these mosquitoes infect more than 300 million people with malaria every year, and more than a million of them die.