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 branch of zoology - ichthyology. Fish live both in the s alty 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, pike perch, perch, grayling, asp, eel, etc. others.
How are predatory fish different?
What is the difference between peaceful fish and carnivores? 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 is the biggest freshwater fish predator
In our reservoirs there are 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, constantlythere is a 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. Thus, 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. His usual diet consists of red mullet, small sharks and even birds.
Moray eels, barracudas, rays. Dangerous inhabitants of the deep sea
The championship in the 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. Whenattacks, 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 for 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. With this tool, a fish 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 of shark attacks on people. These predatory fish are on the verge of extinction.
This is interesting
- The shark jaw force is 500 kg/cm2. It only takes a few bites to dismember a human body. She can easily bite through steel bars.
- These predators don't feel pain. The body of a 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, the frilled shark bears its cub for 3.5 years.
- Predator can reach speeds 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.
- The largest shark 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.
- These fish are kept on the water by their large livers.
- Sharks must constantly move to help their heart apparatus pump blood through the body. She can't even sleep or she'll suffocate or drown.
- Shark's sense of smell is one of the best on our planet.
Sailboat is the fastest fish in the world
Which marine predator 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.
Piranha is one of the most dangerous predatory fish
Omnivorous, ready to tear to shreds in a matter of minutes everything that falls into her zonehabitat. This is how we imagine piranha.
And what is it really, this predatory river fish? Piranhas live 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: slender piranha, red pacu, common and moon methinnis and others.
Deep sea predatory fish
It's hard 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. Names of predatory fish that live at great depths: sack-throat fish, grammatostomy, galateatauma, largemouth,hatchet, linofrin 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.
You can not 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 saw how diverse the world of predatory fish is in freshwaterreservoirs, and in the depths of the sea.
