Predatory fish

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A barracuda preying on a smaller fish

Predatory fish are

obligately predatory
fish.

Populations of large predatory fish in the

pre-industrial levels by 2003,[1] and they are most at risk of extinction; there was a disproportionate level of large predatory fish extinctions during the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event 66 million years ago.[2] Creation of marine reserves has been found to restore populations of large predatory fish such as the Serranidaegroupers and sea bass.[3]

Predatory fish switch between types of prey in response to variations in their abundance. Such changes in preference are disproportionate and are selected for as evolutionarily efficient.

top predator. An example, which has caused much trouble in Maryland and Florida, is the snakehead fish.[5]

Predatory fish such as

Predators are an important factor to consider in managing fisheries, and methods for doing so are available and used in some places.[7]

Additionally, the existence of these predators also allows its prey to evolve countermeasures through natural selection. Consequently, the predators and prey will be locked in an evolutionary arms race, each looking to gain the upper hand on the other. The presence of fish predators play a large role in the size, shape and swimming performance of the Lithobates clamitans tadpoles. The presence of these predators in their habitat causes the tadpoles to develop small bodies and large tail muscles in order to escape from their predators quicker and more efficiently.

Some predatory fish, such as lamnid sharks, billfishes, tuna, opah and butterfly kingfish, have the ability for cranial endothermy, i.e., the ability to elevate eye and brain temperatures, which helps with vision and neural function during ambient temperature changes.[8]

See also

References

  1. S2CID 2392394
    .
  2. ^ "Study unravels why certain fishes became extinct 65 million years ago". eScienceNews. 26 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-30.
  3. ^ US acts over predatory fish, BBC, 23 July 2002
  4. ^ Definition of predatory species of fish to which the higher level of methyl mercury applies, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 6 May 1994, archived from the original on 4 March 2016, retrieved 10 May 2020
  5. ^ Methods to consider predators in fishery management, The Pew Charitable Trusts, 7 May 2013
  6. ^ Runcie, Rosa; et al. (2009). "Evidence for cranial endothermy in the opah (Lampris guttatus)". J Exp Biol. 212 (4): 461–470.

External links