The largest and most dangerous predators. Predatory fish. Names, descriptions and features of predatory fish Are all marine animals predators

The world's oceans are home to a wide variety of predators. Some wait for their prey in cover and surprise attack when it has lost its vigilance, while others are able to develop dizzying speed while chasing prey. But all of them are 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. In nature, there are about two hundred and fifty species of sharks, 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, and its teeth at this time, 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 common in cold and temperate waters of almost the entire oceans. Killer whales are omnivorous: they feed on both small fish and large marine animals, especially they love pinnipeds. This daring predator even attacks giant whales. The most spectacular method of hunting is throwing killer whales onto the shore, on the rookeries of sea lions. A sharp dorsal fin, blackening above the surface of the water, is a formidable signal of an approaching hunter.

sea ​​anemone

Anemone, or sea anemone, looks like a flower growing on the seabed. It is actually a living being, a coral, which needs food in order to exist. Not all anemone species are able to move along the bottom, most of them are fixed 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 the food to their mouths with tentacles.

Angler

This fish got its name for its very unattractive appearance. The monkfish's head is huge and flat, all studded with spikes, its large mouth is filled with three rows of sharp, curved teeth, and its fins look like paws. A long, detached fin on the head is like an antenna, its angler uses it as bait for small fish and fry, which it feeds on. The predator hides in an ambush at the bottom, burrowing into 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. Octopus hunting tactics are very diverse, due to the characteristics of this amazing animal. The octopus has a very large brain. It has eight tentacles covered with many suction cups. He has excellent eyesight and an enviable camouflage talent. This makes the octopus one of the most dangerous marine predators.

Pike

In rivers and lakes there is a pike, which is not without reason called a river shark. In its natural habitat, it has no worthy rivals. This fish is aggressive and voracious, it 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 captures the mollusk and opens the shell flaps with strong tentacles with suction cups. Then she pushes out part of her stomach, which envelops the inside of the shell. Food already dissolved by gastric juice is drawn in by the predator's mouth.

photo: John ‘K’

sharks

Perhaps the most dangerous predator of the ocean can be called the white shark: this animal brings great fear to people. Sharks lived in the ocean many years before the appearance of man. About 400 species of these animals are known, but the white shark is considered the most dangerous predator. Its powerful teeth, huge weight - about 3 tons and a length of about 6 meters can terrify anyone. The predator has a spindle-shaped body, large fins and a crescent-shaped tail, lives for about 27 years. There are 300 sharp teeth in the oral cavity, the upper jaw is equipped with triangular teeth, and on the lower jaw they acquire a curved shape.

photo: corwinconnect

However, a person is not a "delicacy" for these animals, they prefer to attack those inhabitants who have good fat reserves, for example, fur seals and lions. People are not too interesting for white sharks: they have a lot of muscle tissue and tendons. Sharks attack people for two reasons:

a man flounders in the water, and the predator takes him for easy prey - a sick animal;

the silhouette of a person floating on a surfboard resembles the outlines of other inhabitants of the ocean. Since sharks have poor eyesight, they can mistake a swimmer for mere prey. To make sure the prey is edible, the predator makes a test bite or is limited to a powerful push, but it can also tear the prey to pieces.

photo: Venson Kuchipudi

How the white shark will behave is difficult to predict. Having caught the prey, the shark shakes its head in different directions, which helps it tear the prey to pieces.

Scientists believe that thanks to this animal, the Pacific Ocean is the cleanest, since the shark eats the weakest creatures.

sea ​​anemones

These organisms belong to the class of cnidarians, the distinguishing feature of which is the presence of stinging cells used for defense against predators and for the purpose of attack. Anemones lead a sedentary lifestyle, their length reaches 1 meter in height.

photo:Achim

These predators are attached to the bottom with a special foot called the basal disc or sole. The tentacles of sea anemones, which vary in number from ten to hundreds, contain special cells called cnidocytes. These cells secrete a venom composed of a mixture of toxins designed for hunting and self-defense. The poison contains substances that affect the nervous system: they paralyze the victim, which allows the predator to pull it closer to the mouth. With the help of venom, anemones immobilize fish and crustaceans, which make up their main diet.

For humans, the poison of stinging cells is not life-threatening, but can cause soreness and burns.

killer whales

These predators belong to the dolphin family, but do not have all the friendly features of these animals. Their nickname is the killer whale, they eat almost all the inhabitants of the oceans: mollusks, fish, mammals. If they have enough food, then killer whales exist quite peacefully with other cetaceans. But if the killer whale gets hungry, a whale, and, and a penguin can become her food.

photo: Nick Johnson

The size of the victim does not really matter: if it is a large animal, killer whales can attack with the whole herd. But, when it is not possible to kill the victim in one fell swoop, killer whales can starve it out, biting off a small piece from the body. No one will be protected from the attack of killer whales - neither a small herring, nor a large dolphin.

A flock of these animals works in a strictly debugged mode: when they notice a victim, they become very “silent”.

photo: Sean

They move in even ranks, like soldiers, and each individual has its own task. If a flock of killer whales leads a sedentary lifestyle, then fish or crustaceans are quite suitable for food. A migrating flock of killer whales may feed on large mammals such as seals and sea lions. They fully justify their nickname - "killer whales".

These are representatives of the order of cephalopods. Octopuses have excellent sense of smell, sight and touch, but they do not hear very well. Octopuses are mobile animals that, with the help of tentacles, capture the victim and immobilize it with the help of a paralyzing poison. Most often, crabs and lobsters become their prey: with the help of their tools, they split their shell and reach the body of the victim. For humans, octopus venom is also dangerous, there are problems with speech, breathing and swallowing. If help does not arrive in time, it can lead to death.

Photo: Neptune Canada

Octopuses are rather cunning creatures: when an enemy attacks, they seem to throw off their tentacles. The reclined organ wriggles frantically, and the predator focuses directly on it. At this time, the octopus safely crawls away.

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Seas and oceans are the cradle of life on Earth. According to some theories, all life on the planet originated in water. The sea resembles a huge metropolis, where everything lives according to its own laws, everyone takes his place and performs a very important function. If this order, which has developed into a harmonious mosaic, is violated, then this city will cease to exist. Therefore, it is important to know about the wealth of the animal world. You can find out who the marine inhabitants are, photos with the names of the most common species and interesting facts about their life.

All living creatures that inhabit the sea are conditionally divided into several categories:

• animals (mammals);
• fish;
• algae and plankton;
• deep sea fauna;
• snakes and turtles.

There are some animals that are difficult to attribute to a particular group. For example, spongy or sponges.

marine mammals

Scientists have discovered more than 125 species of mammals - the inhabitants of the sea. They can be divided into three main groups:

1. Walruses, fur seals and seals (pinnipeds order).
2. Dolphins and whales (a detachment of cetaceans).
3. Manatees and dugongs (a detachment of herbivores).
4. Sea otters (or otters).

The first group is one of the largest (more than 600 million individuals). They are all carnivores and feed on fish. Walruses are very large animals. Some individuals reach 1.5 tons in weight and grow up to 4 m in length. The dexterity and flexibility of walruses are amazing with such sizes, they easily move on land and in water. Due to the special structure of the pharynx, they can spend a long time in the sea and will not drown, even if they fall asleep. Thick brown skin becomes lighter with age, and if you manage to see a pink, even almost white, walrus, you know that he is about 35 years old. For these individuals, this is already old age. The walrus is not confused with the seal only because of their distinctive feature - tusks. Measurement of one of the largest tusks showed almost 80 cm in length, and weight - about 5 kg. The front fins of the walrus end with fingers - five on each paw.

Seals live in the Arctic and Antarctic, so they can withstand extremely low temperatures (down to -80˚C). Most of them do not have external auricles, but they hear very well. Seal fur is short but thick, which helps the animal move underwater. It seems that seals on land are clumsy and defenseless. They move with the help of the forelimbs and abdomen, their hind legs are poorly developed. However, they move briskly in the water and swim excellently.

Sea lions are very voracious. They eat 4-5 kg ​​of fish per day. The leopard seal is a subspecies of seals that can catch and eat other small seals or penguins. Appearance is typical for most pinnipeds. The fur seals are much smaller than their fellows in the detachment, so they crawl on land with the help of all four limbs. The eyes of these inhabitants of the sea are beautiful, but it is known that they see poorly - myopia.

Dolphins and whales are related to each other. Dolphins are one of the most unusual creatures on the planet. Their distinctive features:

• The absence of ears, nose, small eyes and at the same time a unique echolocation that allows you to accurately determine the location of objects in the water.
• Bare, streamlined body, without signs of wool or scales, the surface of which is constantly renewed.
• Voice and the beginnings of speech, allowing dolphins to communicate with each other in a flock.

Whales are giants among mammals. They feed on plankton or small fish, breathe through a special hole called a “blowhole”. During exhalation, a fountain of moist air from the lungs passes through it. Whales move in the water with the help of fins, the size of which differs in different species. The blue whale is the largest animal that has ever lived on Earth.

The most popular types of sea fish

The second largest group of marine inhabitants includes the following species:

• Cod (blue whiting, cod, saffron cod, hake, pollock, saithe and others).
• Mackerel (mackerel, tuna, mackerel and other fish).
• Flounders (flounder, halibut, dexist, embassicht, etc.).

• Herring (Atlantic menhaden, Atlantic herring, Baltic herring, Pacific herring, European sardine, European sprat).

• Garfish (garfish, medaka, saury, etc.).
• Sea sharks.

The first species lives in the seas of the Atlantic Ocean, comfortable conditions for them are 0 ˚ C. Its main external difference is the mustache on the chin. They live mainly on the bottom, feed on plankton, but there are also predatory species. Cod is the most numerous representative of this subspecies. It breeds in large numbers - about 9 million eggs per spawning. It is of great commercial importance, since meat and liver have a high fat content. Pollock is a long-liver in the cod family (lives 16 - 20 years). Lives in cold waters, is a semi-deep water fish. Pollock is caught everywhere.

Mackerels do not lead a bottom lifestyle. Their meat is valued for its high nutritional value, fat content and a large amount of vitamins.

In flounders, the eyes are located on one side of the head: right or left. They have symmetrical fins and a flattened body.

Herring fish is a pioneer among commercial fish. Distinctive features - no or very small teeth, and almost all lack scales.

Garfish-shaped elongated fish with long, sometimes asymmetrical jaws.

The shark is one of the largest marine predators. The whale shark is the only one that feeds on plankton. The unique abilities of sharks are sense of smell and hearing. They can smell the smell for several hundred kilometers, and the inner ear is able to pick up ultrasounds. The shark's powerful weapon is its sharp teeth, with which it tears the victim's body to pieces. One of the main misconceptions is the opinion that all sharks are dangerous to humans. Only 4 species are dangerous to people - bull shark, white, tiger, long-winged.

Moray eels are marine predators from the eel family, whose body is covered with poisonous mucus. Outwardly, they are very similar to snakes. They practically do not see, they navigate in space by smell.

Algae and plankton

It is the most numerous form of life. There are two types of plankton:

• Phytoplankton. It feeds on photosynthesis. Basically, it's algae.
• Zooplankton (tiny animals and fish larvae). Eats phytoplankton.

Plankton includes algae, bacteria, protozoa, crustacean larvae, and jellyfish.

Jellyfish are one of the oldest creatures on Earth. Their exact species composition is unknown. One of the largest representatives is the Lion's Mane jellyfish (tentacle length 30 m). The "Australian wasp" is especially dangerous. It is small in size and looks like transparent jellyfish - about 2.5 cm. When a jellyfish dies, its tentacles can sting for a few more days.

deep sea fauna

The inhabitants of the seabed are a great many, but their sizes are microscopic. These are mainly the simplest unicellular organisms, coelenterates, worms, crustaceans and mollusks. However, in deep water there are both fish and jellyfish, which have the ability to glow. Therefore, we can say that under the water column is not absolute darkness. The fish living there are predatory, they use light to attract prey. One of the most unusual and terrifying, at first glance, is howliod. This is a small black fish with a long mustache on the lower lip, with which it moves, and with terrible long teeth.

One of the most recognizable representatives of the order of mollusks is the squid. It lives in both warm and cold seas. The colder the water, the paler the color of the squid. The change in color saturation also depends on the electrical impulse. Some individuals have three hearts, so they have the ability to regenerate. Squids are predators, they feed on small crustaceans and plankton.

Clams also include oysters, mussels, and scallops. These representatives have a soft body, closed in a shell of two valves. They practically do not move, burrow into silt or live in large colonies, located on rocks and underwater reefs.

snakes and turtles

Sea turtles are large animals. They reach 1.5 m in length and can weigh up to 300 kg. Ridley is the smallest among all turtles, weighing no more than 50 kg. The front paws of turtles are better developed than the hind ones. This helps them swim long distances. It is known that sea turtles appear on land only for procreation. The shell is a bony formation with thick shields. Its color is light brown to dark green.

To get their own food, turtles swim to a depth of 10 meters. Basically, they feed on mollusks, algae and sometimes small jellyfish.

Sea snakes exist in 56 species, united in 16 genera. They are found off the coast of Africa and Central America, in the Red Sea and off the coast of Japan. A large population lives in the South China Sea.

The snakes do not dive deeper than 200 meters, but without air they can stay for 2 hours. Therefore, these underwater inhabitants do not swim further than 5 - 6 km from land. Crustaceans, shrimps, eels became food for them. The most famous representatives of sea snakes:

• The ringed emidocephalus is a snake with poisonous teeth.

Marine inhabitants, their photos with names, habitats and unusual facts of life are of great interest to both scientists and amateurs. The sea is a whole universe, the secrets of which people will have to learn for more than one millennium.

A huge number of different predators live in the ocean. Some marine predators attack swiftly, while others sit in shelter for a long time, waiting for their prey.

Each inhabitant of the ocean is eaten by other marine life, only killer whales and sharks have no enemies.

sharks

The white shark is probably the most dangerous predator of the deep sea. People tremble at the very idea of ​​a great white shark.

The white shark - in terms of strength and power, it has no equal among predators in the ocean.

Sharks appeared in the ocean long before humans began to dominate the Earth. There are about 400 species of sharks. But the most dangerous shark is the white shark. Individuals of this species in length can reach 6 meters, they weigh about 3 tons and have a powerful toothy mouth. There are about 300 sharp teeth in the mouth. The teeth on the upper jaw are triangular, while those on the lower jaw are recurved. The body shape of the white shark is spindle-shaped, the tail looks like a crescent, the fins are large. White sharks live for about 27 years.

But people are not the target. These predators prefer prey with more serious fat reserves. For example, their favorite treats are sea lions and seals. White sharks do not show too high interest in people, because there are too many tendons and muscles in the human body.

As a rule, white sharks attack people for two reasons. The first is that a person, swimming in the water, is associated with a shark with a sick animal that cannot develop sufficient speed, and it is easy to catch it. The second reason is that surfers floating on a board look like other inhabitants of the ocean from the water. And since the shark has rather poor eyesight, it can easily be mistaken. To understand if the prey is edible, the shark bites it, but sometimes sharks tear people to pieces. It is difficult to predict how this predator will behave. When a shark grabs a prey, it shakes its head in all directions, thus snatching pieces from it.

Anemone is a predatory animal, more like a plant.

Scientists say sharks are ocean orderlies as they eat dying animals.

sea ​​anemones

Anemone is a predator veiled in beauty.

Anemones are representatives of the cnidarians. Anemones have stinging cells that they use as weapons. Anemones reach a height of about 1 meter. These creatures lead a sedentary life. They are attached to the bottom with a foot called the sole or basal disc.

The sea anemone has from ten to hundreds of tentacles with special cells - cnidocytes. In these cells, poison is formed, which is a mixture of toxins. Anemones use this poison during hunting and for protection from predators.

The poison contains substances that affect the nervous system of the victim. Prey under the influence of poison is paralyzed and the predator eats it calmly.

The basis of the diet of sea anemones are fish and crustaceans. For humans, actinium poison is not dangerous, it does not lead to death, but it can cause quite severe burns.

killer whales

- predators of the dolphin family, but they are not at all as friendly as dolphins. They are called killer whales. Killer whales attack almost all marine inhabitants: mammals, fish and mollusks. If there is enough food, then killer whales behave quite friendly with the rest of the cetaceans, but if there is little food, then killer whales attack their own kind: dolphins and whales.

Killer whales are one of the formidable oceanic hunters.

For these predators, the size of prey does not matter much; killer whales hunt large animals together. If the victim cannot be killed immediately, the killer whale harasses it by biting off small pieces from it. No one manages to stay alive after a collision with killer whales - not a small fish, not a large whale.

A flock of killer whales during the hunt acts very harmoniously. Predators move in even ranks, like soldiers, while each killer whale has a clearly defined task.

When killer whales lead a sedentary life, they feed mainly on crustaceans and fish. And migrating killer whales prefer large mammals such as sea lions and seals. Killer whales justify the name of killer whales in the best possible way.

Octopuses

Octopuses are part of the order of cephalopods. These creatures have excellently developed sight, smell, and touch, but they do not hear very well.

Barracuda / Photo: wikimedia

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 packs, reach speeds of up to 45 km / h and are definitely not afraid of anyone. Their teeth are shark jaws in miniature.

Barracuda can easily attack a person, but not from evil: in troubled waters or at night, it takes our hands and feet for fish that can be eaten. She is also attracted to shiny objects - watches, knives, tools. Remember, the barracuda is at the top of its food chain, with a hunting record of 50 million years. Deciding to go scuba diving in her domain, be polite and careful.

striped surgeon

Cavity surgeon / Photo: wikimedia

The striped surgeon is a very beautiful fish. Small, up to 40 cm in length, she lives in the Pacific and Indian oceans. On the sides of the fish are yellow-blue stripes, the belly is blue with an orange fin. When you look at it, your hand reaches out to touch it. You should not do this: at the tips of the tail of the surgeon there are plates sharp as a scalpel, which are also poisonous.

Remember that there are 1,200 species of poisonous fish in the ocean that cause up to 50,000 people a year to suffer. However, dangerous fish compensate for the damage done - 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. At least because they are not flowers at all. Sea anemones are similar to a hybrid of a tulip and a peon, reaching a meter in diameter. They live in the tropics and subtropics. In youth, anemones are attached with a "sole" to solid ground and can no longer move. Never mind, they will get you anyway: the anemones instantly release tentacles that pierce the fish swimming inadvertently nearby. A paralyzing neurotoxin immobilizes the victim. All that remains for the anemone is to drag it to the mouth, intercept it with labial tentacles and eat it. A man, of course, is large enough to become a dinner, but a painful burn is guaranteed to him.

moray eel

Moray eel / Photo: davyjoneslocker

The moray eel is a terrifying underwater snake up to three meters long, with a stone-hard crest on its back. It lives in tropical and temperate waters. It looks like it has a small mouth, but in fact it is able to open its mouth so wide, swallowing the victim, that it simply cannot do it in its cave. Yawning so much that it doesn’t even fit at home is a record.

However, the moray eel does not like to leave the cave, so it does it easier: it has two rows of toothy jaws, and the second row suddenly moves forward to grab the prey that swims past the doors. Like in a horror movie, right? Neighboring fish are aware that it is better not to swim to the eel on the “ladder landing”, so at night he still has to leave the house to hunt.

toad fish

Toad fish / Photo: wikimedia

It is difficult to imagine a creature more ugly 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 toad fish is very peaceful: it sits quietly at the bottom, merging with it in color in order to disguise itself, and waits for careless squids and shrimps. Powerful jaws bite through the shells of crabs and oysters with a crunch.

The toad fish guards its territory by making a screech or horn sound and by displaying venomous spikes. Respect personal space - and you will not have problems with it. 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 bathers jump out of the water, screaming, stumble upon a poisonous spike, and go 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 long, it can weigh more than two tons. A person is just a slice of bacon to her. To bite into that slice, the great white shark has 300 teeth immortalized by Spielberg in the movie Jaws.

Luckily, humans don't taste good to sharks. Much more she likes dolphins, seals, fur seals and turtles. When in the mood, the white shark regales itself with 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, but is on the verge of extinction: there are about 3,500 individuals left in the world.

snail-cone

Cone snail / Photo: wikimedia

A small cone snail does not just look harmless - it makes you want to take it home as a souvenir. Particularly noteworthy is the correct conical shape. A careless tourist takes a snail in his hand, and the cone, torn from its familiar environment, begins to defend itself. A poisonous spike is used, which shoots like a dart from the stigma of a snail. The souvenir comes at a high price: the poison of the cone is deadly for humans, and every third victim does not reach the hospital.

The cone has an excellent sense of smell - it is able to follow the trail of the victim for hours. Usually the snail preys on 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 without sentimentality eat their own kind - yes, they are also cannibals.

Indonesian needlefish

Indonesian needlefish / Photo: David Doubilet

Everyone knows what a needlefish is: a thin, nimble predator up to 60 cm long, so flexible that it can be tied into a knot. A distinctive sign is the muzzle, elongated in the form of a needle and full of sharp teeth. Some species of needlefish feel great in the Black Sea and quite friendly bypass 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 very angry. This is not to say that the needle does this often. But when it does, for the person who has become its target, everything ends in 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, lights on boats attract fish and provoke an attack.

combed crocodile

Salted crocodile / Photo: wikimedia

Saltwater crocodile is better known as saltwater crocodile because it lives in salt water. But its most telling name is the cannibal crocodile. This is the largest living predator on the planet - it reaches seven meters in length, and can weigh more than two tons. Lives in estuaries and coastal waters throughout Southeast Asia and Northern Australia, being the most common crocodile in the world.

Saltwater crocodile is extremely aggressive. Huge six-meter males love to arrange fights without rules - fierce 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 range. 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 tail from the bottom. 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 remember about human victims: the jaws of a combed crocodile bite people like marshmallows, and it’s good if you die quickly.

hairy cyanoea

Hairy cyanoea / Photo: masterok

Cyanea is very similar to the colorful jellyfish that we all feared as children. But people are growing, and fears are growing: it is dozens of times larger than an ordinary jellyfish. Its "cap" reaches two meters in diameter, and thick tentacles stretch to 30 meters. Another name for cyanide - "lion's mane" - well reflects its appearance. A dense network of poisonous tentacles of a jellyfish perfectly catches medium-sized fish, plankton, and smaller jellyfish. Paralyzed by poison, they become easy prey.

Cyanea is often found in the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic and the Baltic Sea. In one of his stories, Arthur Conan Doyle made a jellyfish a killer of people, securing her notoriety. We are glad to report that this is not at all the case: cyanide is not capable of killing a person, except to inflict serious skin damage on him. If you have a strong wetsuit and enough courage, you can swim with a beautiful sea monster without risking your life.