Predator | Incredible Aquatic Species

Snakeheads Invade

Ever since the late 90s, the United States has had an invasive problem with Sankehead fish. These fish are predators that originally come from the Yangtze River area in China. Their arrival marked a dramatic change to the underwater ecosystem and local fish, crabs, and clams.

Snakehead fish get their name because they look very similar to snakes. With a long fin, a large mouth, and sharp little teeth they will make for one scary encounter in the water. These fish, like mammals, breathe air. They even have a special organ that allows them to do so. Young snakeheads prey on small species like plankton, insects, and mollusks. When they grow older, they take a liking to larger fish and frogs. Sometimes they will even eat small animals like rats. These predators can get to be up to 3 feet long.

Because these creatures are so invasive when they are let loose in the wild, it is illegal to own them in the United States as well as some other countries. Because of their predatory nature and the way they take over the water, the National Geographic nicknamed them “Fishzilla.” Part of what makes them so invasive is that by the age of 3 they are sexually mature enough to mate. Female snakeheads can produce fifteen thousand eggs at the same time, and they can do this five times per year. This adds up to one hundred and fifty thousand snakeheads per year with every female that is mating.

Snakeheads can survive on both dry and wet land, which means they come up on land if and when they feel like it. Because they are so similar to snakes, they also attack in a similar fashion by thrusting their bodies and swallowing their prey whole. These fish make a very scary version of the modern day snake for anyone who is afraid of snakes.

Concern About the Sea Lamprey

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A growing concern for the United States is the invasion of new sea life. Among the new creatures to take over the waters is the sea lamprey. This is a jaw-less fish that feeds on blood and fluids from other fish by tearing away the skin when it attaches to them. Once the lamprey is done feeding, it moves on to new hosts, leaving an open wound that can attract other predators and infection.

This tiny invader, unlike most of the invasive species, came through migration from Canada and eventually landed in the Great Lakes. By the 1950s, the lamprey took over the Great Lakes and had dramatically impacted the trout and whitefish population. This caused a lot of problems for the fishing industry at the time.

The only real solution to gaining control over the Great Lakes and getting rid of the lamprey was to poison the lamprey with a poison that kills the larvae but does not hurt the other fish or animals that live in the same water. This solution is effective, and has been used since the 1950s; however, it is a very costly treatment. With the control of these fish, however, has brought back an increasing recovery of imported fish.

The lamprey is born from eggs as larvae. They are blind, have no teeth, and can live for 7 years this way. They are buried in the dirt near the bottom of the water to protect them from other predators. After they grow large enough, they become predators and launch themselves into the sea. Once they have grown to sexual maturity after several years of feeding, they stop feeding and return to fresh water streams to spawn and die. While attacks on humans have been rare, these creatures are still a nuisance to the local fish and people.

Alewife

The alewife is a 3-10 inch, silvery colored marine fish that is found along the east coast of North America. Normally found in coastal waters, the alewife has found its way through unknown sources, to landlocked lakes such as Lake St. Catherine in Vermont. Although the alewife eats plankton, there are numerous ways it impacts the environment negatively and while they are prey to most larger fish, this has not diminished the negative impacts they have on the lakes and rivers they have been found in.

Some of the ways that alewife fish have a damaging effect on lakes and rivers are:

Alewife fish alter the zooplankton in the water they inhabit. This causes negative effects to the clarity of the water and makes the chances for algae blooms much higher.

Alewife beat out other fish, such as trout, bass, yellow perch, salmon and walleye, for food sources. Also competing with juvenile fish such as rainbow smelt, this has been believed to be the source of a declining fish population in the areas they have invaded.

Along with zooplankton, the alewife fish also likes to feed on the larvae and eggs of other fish species such as lake trout and yellow perch. This increases the mortality rate in those fish, adding to their declining numbers.

A maternally transmitted disease that the alewife fish carries has also contributed to the reproductive failure of landlocked lake trout and Atlantic salmon. This has also been studied to be the cause of an increasing mortality rate in larvae since the trout and salmon feed on alewife. This effects their on reproduction as well as it being carried to their larvae.

Since the alewife undergo periods of mass mortality for unknown reasons, this too affects the fish population of other species by eliminating their food source.

The Predators of Jellyfish

Jellyfish are lucky because they are covered in stinging cells. If these stinging cells did not exist they would be very vulnerable to other aquatic species. This is because they are creatures that have soft tissue. The fact that they move very slowly does not help the situation. There are a few animals that feed on jellyfish. These animals have an immunity to the jellyfish venom.

Surprising enough one aquatic species that loves to feast on the body of the jellyfish is the sea turtle. The sea turtle is not the only animal that is able to eat jellyfish. In fact an aquatic species called the ocean sunfish also eat jellyfish.

Birds eat jellyfish in a unique way. They peck at the jellyfish in order to avoid the outer tentacles. The outer tentacles is the part of the jellyfish that stings. By doing this they attack the inner tissue of the jellyfish.

Another odd predator of jellyfish is other jellyfish. A jellyfish will not eat another jellyfish if it is from the same species that it is from. Other species of jellyfish are fair game.

Like many other creatures of the sea the jellyfish is often caught by humans for food purposes. This type of fish is considered a delicacy in some parts of Asia. There are fishing boats that go out and catch jellyfish so that they can be sold and eaten in Asia. Often the jellyfish is dried and preserved. Some restaurants serve the jellyfish as a meal.

If you have never seen this type of fish the best way to do so is to go to an aquarium. While this aquatic species is fascinating it is also it is also very dangerous. Contact with a jellyfish can cause immense pain and in some cases a jellyfish sting can be fatal.

The Freshwater Stingray’s Stinger

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Most aquatic species of the freshwater stingray are found in the Amazon. There are also stingrays found in other tropical rivers. The stingray is an ancient aquatic species. Historians have traced back the evolutionary history of the stingray all the back to three hundred million years ago.

Stingrays are named after their stinger. A stingray’s stinger lies flat on the top of the ray. It is located towards the tail of the stingray. The stinger is sometimes difficult to see.

Rays have a powerful venom that will cause much discomfort if you are stung by a stingray. The venom of the ray can cause you to get large blisters, a burning throbbing pain. In some cases the sting of a ray can end in a fatality.

In most cases you will not die if you are stung. The stings that cause fatalities are the ones that accompany a unusual accident. The stinger of the ray will have to hit an area in the chest that is close to the heart in order for the attack to be fatal.

In the Amazon the most stingray casualties occur when somebody steps on a ray. During the day the stingray enjoys basking in the sun. They do this by coming up to shore and hiding beneath the sand.

Stingrays do not use their stinger if they do not have to. They prefer to move out of the way. This is why many people shuffle their feet loudly or poke at the ground in front of them. The ray will sense the movement and move before it gets stepped on.

Stingray fans can observe rays and many other types of marine life at places like aquariums and zoos. Some aquatic shows also feature the sting ray. The best thing about visiting places like these is that you will not have to worry about being stung.

The Whale Shark – A Powerful Aquatic Species

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When you hear the word shark it is safe to assume that you will feel somewhat uneasy thinking about this beautiful yet powerful creature. The stigma that is given to sharks is largely undeserved. The whale shark in particular is an example of a shark that does not present danger to humans.

This aquatic species of the shark is often referred to as a gentle giant. This is due to the fact that the whale shark likes to feed on shrimp, fish eggs, small fish and plankton.

Any injuries that have resulted from a whale shark encounter have been when a human has been swimming too close to the shark. Most experienced divers will know that the whale shark is docile when it is observed from a safe distance.

This aquatic species can be found in nine parts of the world. The areas that these sharks live in attract a lot of tourists and scientists that wish to see this particular marine life in person. Whale sharks are a lucrative part of the tourism industry for the countries that they live in.

Because whale sharks have been hunted in the past there is a great deal of concern regarding the protection of this animal. There are several active conservation groups that are promoting the creation of laws to protect the whale shark.

There are not many whale sharks in captivity at present. The whale sharks that are in captivity are in various aquariums around the world. Unless you live in these areas or are planning on visiting them it is unlikely that the average person will see a whale shark in their lifetime.

Currently there is not a lot known about the whale sharks. However scientists are making an effort to discover more about this creature’s way of life. The whale sharks that are held in captivity will be useful for research purposes.

Fun Facts About the Aquatic Species the Dolphin

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Dolphins are a fascinating aquatic species that is admired by both children and adults. If you wish to see a dolphin in person you can do so at parks such as Sea World. The dolphin has captured the interest of many because it is a beautiful and intelligent creature.

One of the reasons that people find dolphins so interesting is because they are considered to be very smart. A dolphin is a fast learner that can differentiate between many objects. Some scientists have compared the intelligence of a dolphin to that of a two year old child. Like a toddler a dolphin can understand some complicated commands and also some of the human language. Because a dolphin can understand this much information they are able to communicate with their trainers.

A dolphin has a very healthy appetite. This creature can eat between ten to twenty kilograms of food per day. Dolphins feel on a number of different fish and squid. The amount of fish that a dolphin eats per day will depend on the fat content of the fish. An example of this is that a herring is a very fatty fish. A dolphin will acquire a lot of energy from eating this fish. This means it will not need to eat as much of it. In comparison a squid has a much lower fat content. Dolphins will need to eat more squid in order to get the energy that they need from it.

These creatures have a long life expectancy. A dolphin will usually live for ten to fourteen years. However it is not unheard of for a dolphin to live up to fifty years.

The dolphin will always be a part of marine life that fascinates the mind of many. It is an attractive creature with many endearing characteristics.

A Guide to the Aquatic Species of Killer Whales

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The orca is also known as a killer whale. As killer whales are so large in size the only threat to their future comes in the form of human beings. The killer whale is a predator that attacks many aquatic species. These creatures are dangerous and predatory. They are also considered to be majestic and beautiful by most people that view them.

Although many people call this aquatic species a whale it is actually a part of the dolphin family. Orcas are considered to be the biggest dolphins in existence. They have black skin that is broken up by white patches. Like dolphins the orca has a dorsal fin and big flippers.

One of the most interesting facts about this aquatic species is that they live in pods. These pods are small and generally contain six to forty killer whales. The whales in each pod stay with each other throughout their whole lives. They work together to perform tasks such as protecting the young, sick and injured members of their pod.

The members of the pod work alongside each other in order to hunt and catch their food.
The killer whale generally eats different types of fish, squid, whales, sharks, seals, turtles, sea gulls, octopus, and penguin. The average killer whale eats over five hundred pounds of food every day. Orcas will not migrate but they do travel a long way if they want to catch prey.

The killer whale can be found in both tropical and artic waters. Many people travel a long way to see this type of marine life up close and personal. Others can visit orcas in captivity at places like Sea World. Captive orcas put on a great show as they are intelligent and easy to train. They are a very popular attraction for tourists.

The Aquatic Species – the Blue Whale

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The blue whale is a fascinating animal. This particular aquatic species is the biggest living animal on the planet. Due to it’s size the blue whale can make sounds that can travel over hundreds of miles. The have a long life span and eat thousands of pounds worth of food every day.

Humpback whales do not eat in winter. The aquatic species of the Blue Whale needs to eat all year round. This is simply because this particular type of marine life is so big.

In the past it has been difficult to study this creature. However this is no longer the case. Today scientists are able to decode the sounds that whales make. They do this by comparing the sound they make to their behavior.

The sounds that scientists are interested in is the sound of boats that are in shipping lanes. What they want to know is if the sounds made by ships are louder than the sounds made by whales. Researchers are hoping to discover if these sounds have any sort of affect on the Blue Whale. Once they have this data they will be able to tell if the appetite of this aquatic species put them in danger from shipping lanes.

Unfortunately due to the size of the Blue Whale it is a creature that is unlikely to be at places like Sea World. Most people will not be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of this creature in their lifetime.

At present the biggest possible danger that the whales face is the existence of shipping lanes. More and more ships are taking to the ocean as the demand for certain goods increases. These ships may be putting the lives of whales in danger. However we cannot draw any conclusions until more research is conducted by scientists.

A Guide to the Predatory Tiger Shark

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Tiger sharks are a fascinating aquatic species. This type of marine life has distinctive characteristics. It is also a creature that can cause considerable harm to humans.

This aquatic species will eat just about anything. It is unable to differentiate between food and inedible objects. There have been several odd items found in the stomachs of tiger sharks. Some examples of these objects are license plates and rubber wheels. Conservationists worry that the pollution of the ocean could be detrimental to the health of tiger sharks.

As tiger sharks are endangered there are several conservation groups dedicated to protecting this aquatic species. The members of these groups are primarily volunteers.

A tiger shark can grow to a terrifying size. The bigger sharks can grow up to four meters long. Because of this shark’s large frame many people are wary of seeing these creatures up close. For those that are not brave enough to volunteer with these sharks there are some tiger sharks held in captivity. It has been some time since a tiger shark was held at a Sea World facility. There are many aquariums all over the world that have housed a tiger shark at some point or another.

This aquatic species can be dangerous to humans. In the past they have been responsible for a number of fatal attacks. Those that are holidaying in areas that this type of shark has been spotted in should be wary. Holidaymakers should also keep in mind that some popular holiday activities might attract sharks into waters that are shallow and populated. This will pose another conservation problem.

Those that have the opportunity to see this type of shark at an aquarium should make the most of it. The tiger shark is not an sea creature that people get to see often.