The ocean contains many interesting animals. Some live close to the surface, while others live in the deep, dark sea. Many of them have unique ways of hunting. Here are some of the scariest marine predators.
The mantis shrimp is a strange creature. It is tiny at around 10cm in length. But it is so strong that it has been known to cause serious injury to humans. That's why fishermen call it 'the thumb-splitter.
The mantis shrimp uses its spring-loaded front arms to strike its prey. It feeds on fish, crabs, and shrimp. Some have barbed tips on their arms to drag their prey closer. You don't want to get pierced by those! Many people want to keep them as pets, but it can have strange consequences. Some mantis shrimp have broken out of home aquariums due to their striking force!
Whales are not fish. They are actually mammals, just like humans, dogs, and cats. These are orcas. These whales are also called killer whales because they kill and eat all kinds of different prey.
Seals are one of their favourite types of food. Seals like to relax on ice caps in the ocean. There, they are safe from orcas. But orcas have found a way to get the seal into the water. From one side, a group of orcas swim up to the ice and create a large wave. This wave hits the ice and makes the seal slide to the other side. On the other side, more orcas are waiting to catch the seal. They repeat this until the seal falls into the water. Juvenile whales learn this technique so that they can use it when they become independent.
The anglerfish is one of the scariest predators found in the deep sea. It has a light on top of its fin. It uses this light to lure its prey. Prey fish will swim close because they like the light. But when they get close enough, the anglerfish strikes. Snap! The anglerfish has a mouth full of teeth that are like needles.
Moray eels have long bodies like snakes. They can be found around reefs hiding from their prey. They hide in rocks and poke their snouts out now and then. They are opportunistic hunters. When they see a smaller fish, they pounce.
When you think of marine predators, the great white shark is probably the first animal you imagine. It lives in all the major oceans in the world. The great white shark is at the top of the food chain. It eats shoals of fish, seals, and even dolphins. It often strikes from below to surprise its prey. Its prey is no match for its incredible bite force.
Stingrays are related to sharks. They live in shallow water, lying in the sand waiting for prey to pass. They have large, flat bodies and serrated tails. Some even have tails with venom that they use for defense. Their tails are dangerous to humans. They can cause paralysis and sometimes death.
Which of these marine predators do you think is the most powerful? I know I wouldn't want to run into any of them!