Dangerous and bloodthirsty predators of the oceans. Underwater predators What marine animal is a predator

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.

Covering our planet by 70%, the sea is home to some of the most unusual, mysterious and deadly animals on the planet. Since humans are not born or live in the ocean, this makes us easy prey for many of these creatures, though fortunately we are not part of their main menu...

Because a man who spent too much time floating on the surface of the sea, he often tried to get closer and know what was hidden below the sea level. Luckily, the statistics aren't as terrifying and it seems to be quite rare for a person to be eaten alive in the open ocean. However, do not think that the waters of the ocean are so friendly to us, we should always be on our guard.

When selecting the most dangerous sea creatures in the world, we will take into account the statistics of attacks, the potential for killing and aggression of these animals. This list contains a huge number of species from tropical jellyfish to killers of the Arctic.

10. Sea urchin

Photo. Toxopneustes (lat. Toxopneustes pileolus), sea urchin

Many of you have met sea urchins in your life, and some of you have known how sharp their spines are and how painful it is to feel them in your skin. However, the toxopneustes (Latin: Toxopneustes pileolus) thrives when it comes to defensive tactics. It is described in the Guinness Book of Records as "the most dangerous sea urchin in the world", this is one of the representatives of echinoderms that you definitely should not step on.

What makes this sea urchin so dangerous is its powerful venom that it is equipped with. This venom contains at least two dangerous toxins: contractin A, a neurotoxin that causes smooth muscle spasms, and peditoxin, a protein toxin that can cause convulsions, anaphylactic shock, and death. The venom enters through the pedicellaria, the flower-like structures that give this hedgehog its name. Once skin contact has occurred, pedicellariae often continue to pump venom into the prey. Obviously, the size of these pedicellaria is directly related to the effectiveness of the poison.

Toxopneustes is responsible for many of the deaths that have happened to people over the years. A hedgehog sting is very painful, resulting in paralysis, breathing problems and disorientation, all of which can contribute to drowning a person. As for pain, here is a bite story recorded by a Japanese marine biologist in the 1930s:

“Then 7 or 8 pedicellariae stuck tightly into the inner side of the middle finger of the right hand, separated from the stalk, they remained on the skin of my finger. I instantly felt intense pain, reminiscent of the pain caused by cnidoplast coelenterates, and I felt as if the toxin was beginning to move quickly through the blood vessel from the stung area to my heart. After some time, I experienced difficulty breathing, slight dizziness, paralysis of the lips, tongue and eyelids, relaxation of the muscles in the limbs, it is unlikely that in this state I could speak or control my facial expression, I felt almost as if I was about to die. .

9. Barracuda

Photo. Large barracuda (lat. Sphyraena barracuda)

The photo above should be enough to understand why the barracuda made it to our list. Reaching up to 1.8 m (6 ft) in length and armed with terrifyingly massive, super-sharp teeth, the torpedo-shaped barracuda is more than capable of inflicting serious injury on humans. In fact, there are 22 species of barracuda, but only the Greater Barracuda (lat. Sphyraena barracuda) is known to attack humans.

The barracuda's diet consists mainly of small to medium sized fish. She uses her lightning speed and ambush tactics to catch her. In many recorded attacks on people, people had shiny objects such as jewelry and even diving knives. Apparently the barracuda is attracted to this, confuses them with fish and strikes.

Such attacks can result in deep cuts, often resulting in damage to nerves and tendons, or in the worst case, rupture of blood vessels. These wounds may require hundreds of stitches.

On rare occasions, barracudas have been known to jump out of the water, resulting in serious injury to people in the boat. In one recent case in Florida in 2015, a female canoeist was injured and really had to fight for her life after suffering several broken ribs and a punctured lung during a barracuda attack.

If, however, this information does not convince you that barracuda should be on this list, then there is one more thing. Barracudas have a final argument: their flesh sometimes contains ciguatoxin, which can cause severe symptoms that last for months.

8. Textile cone

Photo. textile cone

Cones have been a favorite with collectors for centuries for their shells, but don't be fooled by their beautiful appearance, these clams are killers! Equipped with tiny harpoons fashioned from modified teeth, these creatures can fire a hollow harpoon filled with deadly neurotoxins in any direction. The harpoon of some large types of cones is very large and strong enough to not only pierce human flesh, but also gloves and even a wetsuit.

One drop of the cone's venom is enough to kill 20 people, making it one of the most venomous creatures on earth. Known as a conotoxin, the poison can only affect certain types of nerves very strongly. Medically, a cone sting usually causes intense localized pain with life-threatening symptoms that does not go away for several days. On the other hand, from the moment this mollusk stings you, paralysis of the respiratory system and subsequent death can occur very quickly. In fact, one type of cone is very well known as the "cigarette snail" all because you don't even have time to smoke a cigarette before you die!

Despite being a deadly poison, cones are responsible for only a handful of deaths over the years, which is why they come in at number 8 on our list.

7. Leopard seal

Photo. Sea leopard

The leopard seal (lat. Hydrurga leptonyx) is actually named after its spotted coat, although this may explain its fierce nature. At the top of the Antarctic food chain, this leopard is one of the largest seals in southern waters. Reaching up to 4 m (13 ft) in length and weighing up to 600 kg (1,320 lb), the leopard seal is a formidable predator. In addition to its size and speed, these seals are also armed with a huge mouth (big enough to fit your head!), studded with large, pointed teeth, making it look more like a reptile than a seal.

The leopard seal's menu includes other seal species, seabirds, penguins and fish, although they are also known for sifting krill and small crustaceans. These seals usually hunt from ambush, just below the level of the ice, when seals or penguins jump into the water, it is at this moment that they pounce on their prey.

Given that the leopard seal is found only in the cold waters of the distant southern oceans, they do not often come into contact with humans at all. However, due to the fact that the sea leopard has already killed people, this makes it very terrible in our eyes.

Back in 1914, during the expedition of Ernest Shackleton, it was necessary to shoot a leopard seal as it was chasing crew member Thomas Ord-Lees. At first, the seal pursued Ord-Fox on the ice, after which it plunged under the ice cover and followed him from below. After the leopard seal jumped ahead of the Ord Fox, another member of the team managed to kill him.

In 2003, a British scientist was less fortunate. Kirsty Brown, a 28-year-old marine biologist working with the British Antarctic Survey, was snorkeling off the Antarctic Peninsula when she was attacked by a large leopard seal. The seal dragged the woman deep into the water, where she suffocated.

While there are many stories of leopard seals harassing people in boats, this incident is the first recorded death.

6. Wart

Photo. warty

This grumpy-looking comrade doesn't seem too happy to be the most venomous fish on the planet. Armed with 13 needle-like sharp spikes running along its back, the stone fish blends in perfectly with the surrounding background, it just waits for the unfortunate person to step on it. Another feature of the wart that is always worth mentioning is that it is able to survive outside the sea for up to 24 hours. It is really very hard to notice on the seabed. The neurotoxic venom of the wart is not only dangerous, but also incredibly painful. In fact, the sting of this fish is reportedly so excruciating that the victims asked to have their limbs cut off. The quote below clearly shows how painful it is:

“In Australia, I got a prick in my finger from a rockfish… not to mention bee venom. ... Imagine that every wrist, knuckle, elbow and shoulder was hit by a sledgehammer for about an hour. About an hour later, you were allegedly kicked in both kidneys for about 45 minutes, so much so that you could not just stand or straighten up. I was in my early 20s, physically fit, and still have a small scar. In the next few days, my finger remained sore, but also for several years after that, pains in the kidneys appeared intermittently. ”

Video. What is dangerous wart

For obvious reasons, many people received a wart injection in the leg. Although such incidents may simply redefine pain, they nevertheless led to great trouble. Such venom injections are potentially fatal, causing respiratory paralysis and possibly heart failure. In severe cases, urgent medical attention is required and the victim must be treated with an antidote. In fact, it is the second most commonly administered antidote in Australia and has resulted in no one dying from a wart sting there for almost 100 years.

5. Blue-ringed octopus

Photo. blue ringed octopus

Instantly recognizable by their iridescent blue rings, these little octopuses spend much of their time hiding in crevices or camouflaging themselves in the coral reefs of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Only when they feel threatened do blue ringed octopuses really live up to their name and show their true colors. At that moment, his skin becomes a bright yellow, and the blue rings are even brighter, they almost shimmer. This beautiful display can also be a warning as it is one of the most dangerous animals in the ocean.

What makes this octopus especially dangerous is its venom. Not all octopuses have venom, but the blue-ringed octopus is in the big leagues. Known as TDT (tetrodotoxin), it is an incredibly potent neurotoxin, similar to the one found in poison dart frogs and wart frogs. It is about 1200 times stronger than cyanide, one small sting can be enough to kill you. In fact, as many victims claim, they did not even feel the injection itself.

An average sample weighing about 30 grams is reported to contain enough poison to kill more than 10 adults.

Video. What is dangerous blue-ringed octopus

There is no effective antidote for blue-ringed octopus venom, its neurotoxin aims to paralyze the victim. In effect, it is similar to medical curare, which is used to immobilize patients during surgery; under its influence, a person is not able to speak and move. The main danger is that it paralyzes the lungs, causing the victim to suffocate. In severe cases, prompt treatment is essential and this involves placing the victim on life support until the effect of the venom wears off and breathing is restored.

4. Box jellyfish

Photo. sea ​​wasp

There are many types of box jellyfish that get their name from their cuboid bodies. Many box jellyfish are especially poisonous, like the large sea wasp (lat. Chironex fleckeri), it has the strongest poison. Found along the northern coasts of Australia and tropical Southeast Asia, the sea wasp is often regarded as the "world's deadliest jellyfish", having killed more than 60 people in Australia alone. Apparently, in other regions of the world, the death toll is much higher, especially where antivenom is not always available.

The venom of the sea wasp is second in strength among all creatures on Earth, more poisonous only in the geographic cone. Calculations show that each animal contains enough venom to kill 60 adult humans and very few animals can kill so quickly. In extreme cases, death occurs from cardiac arrest, known to take less than five minutes after a person has been stung. The bite itself causes excruciating pain along with a burning sensation that is similar to the touch of a hot iron. The good news is that, contrary to popular belief, urinating on the bite will not cause any noticeable effect! In most cases, the tentacles remain on the victim's body, and they are able to continue to sting even after you have left the sea, which often results in scarring.

Video. Box jellyfish - Sea wasp

But there are also tiny jellyfish, the Irukandji. They are widespread and this small jellyfish has a strong venom that can lead to Irukandji syndrome, which gradually appears after the sting itself. The bite of the Irukandji is also reported to be potentially fatal, as well as incredibly painful. One of the victims said that it was even worse than childbirth and more intense.

3. Sea snakes

Photo. Sea snake

There are many species of sea snakes that mainly inhabit the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They are believed to have evolved from land snakes in Australia and adapted to life in shallow coastal waters by developing an enormous left lung and stretching out in length. They are closely related to terrestrial cobras and kraits, which is a little surprising since many sea snakes are highly venomous. What is actually surprising is that their venom is much stronger than that of their terrestrial relatives. The reason for being so venomous is that they eat fish, which means that they must immobilize their prey as quickly as possible to prevent it from escaping and getting hurt.

Apparently, most of you have heard that despite their deadly venom, sea snakes are harmless because they have tiny mouths. This is complete nonsense! Real sea snakes have small fangs and don't have huge mouths, however they are capable of swallowing fish whole and can easily bite a person, even through a wetsuit.

There are actually two reasons why sea snakes are considered far less dangerous than land snakes: First, they tend to be shy and much less aggressive. In addition, they tend to make a "dry" bite, i.e. poison is not injected. It is very unlikely that poison can be injected into a person and the good news is that there are certain antidotes.

Of all the species of sea snakes, there are two that deserve mention. Nosed enhydrina (lat. Enhydrina schistosa) is one of the most poisonous snakes on earth. Its poison is almost 8 times stronger than that of a cobra, one drop is enough to kill three people. It is also considered more aggressive than most other sea snakes. Nosed Enhydrin venom contains both neurotoxins and myotoxins, while the former will kill you through respiratory paralysis, the latter will begin to split muscles, causing excruciating pain.

Despite these signs, there have been a few deaths known to this snake, but it is more common in deeper waters. Most of the bites were given to fishermen while checking their nets.

The second sea snake worthy of mention is the Belcher sea snake (lat. Hydrophis belcheri), only because it is often referred to as the snake with the most powerful poison. It is often claimed that its venom is 100 times stronger than even that of the inland taipan. This is a bit of an exaggeration, but the poison is definitely like that of the taipan. The good news is that Belcher's sea snake is often described as having a "friendly" personality!

2. Salted crocodile

Photo. combed crocodile

Saltwater or saltwater crocodile is no stranger to the pages of In Animal Jaws. This animal is deadly both on land and water, and this crocodile is the largest reptile to have come down to us since the dinosaurs. The largest specimens that have been recorded and described measured up to 7 meters (25 feet) in length and weighed about 2 tons, although in the 1950s one crocodile reached a length of 8.5 meters (30 feet) and was allegedly caught around city ​​of Darwin in Australia.

Along with his size, he also has incredible strength, the saltwater crocodile has the most powerful bite on Earth, 10 times stronger than that of a great white shark. They are also fast swimmers in water, reaching speeds of up to 27 km/h (18 mph). On land, they are not as fast, but urban legends assure us that they are capable of explosive action, they are allegedly faster than you can react.

Although most people associate the saltwater crocodile with Australia, it is widespread and wreaks havoc elsewhere. Salted crocodile can be found throughout Southeast Asia and even as far west as India. These crocodiles are also known to be able to swim long distances alone and have been seen as far away as Fijah and New Caledonia.

Australia has an average of two fatal attacks by saltwater crocodiles per year. In other places, the number of attacks is difficult to estimate, but studies show that there are many more, up to 30 per year.

Perhaps the most infamous attack by combed crocodiles occurred on Ramri Island (Myanmar) during World War II. After a fierce battle, the Japanese soldiers refused to surrender and retreated into the crocodile-infested swamp, which was surrounded by British marines. According to reports, about 400 Japanese soldiers were killed by crocodiles that night. An eyewitness, Bruce Stanley Wright, wrote of the events of that night:

Video. Crocodile slaughter. Crocodile attacks on Ramri Island

“Scattered rifle shots in the black haze of the swamp were interrupted by the screams of wounded men being eaten by the jaws of huge reptiles, and the blurry disturbing sound of spinning crocodiles was like a sound from hell, which is rarely heard on earth ...

Of about a thousand Japanese soldiers who entered the Ramri swamps, only about twenty were found alive."

1 Sharks

Photo. Great white shark

Not too many surprises here, right? As predators, sharks are the preeminent ocean predators and are very well equipped to inflict serious injury: large, fast and powerful jaws armed with several rows of razor-sharp teeth, these fish are polished killing machines. However, despite the existence of about 400 species, it is possible to select only a few that pose at least some real danger to humans. We have already described in another article, but we still believe that it is worth choosing only four of them.

On the one hand, the great white shark is the most capable killer of all living sharks. Reaching a length of almost 8 meters (25 feet) and 3 tons in weight, great white sharks have earned their name in their lifetime. Their favorite tactic is to swim under their prey and then at maximum speed (55 km/h, 35 mph) with their mouths open, rise up to sink their teeth into the unsuspecting prey.

Statistics partly support the status of the great white shark as a deadly ocean creature for humans, of about 400 recorded unprovoked attacks, approximately 20% were fatal. However, with a closer look at some other types of sharks, one can understand that great white sharks are not as dangerous to humans as compared to other species.

The bull shark has slightly higher kill rates, around 25%, and many attacks are thought to have either been misattributed or not recorded. The trump card of the bull shark is its ability to survive in fresh water. These sharks have been found around the world thousands of miles from the ocean in estuaries where no one expected to see them. They have even been found in lakes that have only seasonal access to the sea.

Also, bull sharks, like tiger sharks, are much less picky about what they eat. While most great white shark attacks seem to mistakenly misidentify their prey, bull sharks deliberately attack humans.

Another type of shark worth mentioning is the long-winged shark. Although the statistics do not indicate their danger, the legendary naturalist Jacques Cousteau described them as "the most dangerous of all sharks." It is these sharks that are blamed for hundreds of deaths during air and sea disasters. The most famous cases date back to World War II, when the Nova Scotia sank off the coast of South Africa and the Indianapolis in the Philippines. Although no exact figures are available, the total death toll from these two disasters is believed to be around 1,000 as a result of shark attacks.

Rich and varied inhabiting our animals. The most dangerous predators have always aroused great human interest. Firstly, it’s scary, and secondly, we are so arranged that we want to know who is the strongest, bravest, handsome, scary, etc. And it doesn’t matter who we are talking about - about ourselves or about brothers our smaller (well, or large). To date, experts do not have a consensus on which animals are the most planets. Probably, once they were dinosaurs, but today different species deserve this title. These are both amphibians and marine life. In the article, we will present you the Top 10 most dangerous predators in the world.

Polar bear

First in our ranking, we will present the northern giant, the largest land predator. This is a polar, or polar bear. Its weight reaches eight hundred kilograms, and its body length is three meters. Scientists note that this is an animal with a high level of intelligence, which easily navigates the vast expanses of ice.

This bear hunts all year round. This is due to the fact that, unlike their brown counterparts, he does not hibernate. They also feed on small animals. As a rule, the most dangerous predators in the world also attack people. The polar bear is no exception, but an attack usually follows only when the animal senses human aggression or fear.

Tiger

This amazingly beautiful cat in natural conditions lives in our country in the Far East, as well as in China, Iran, Afghanistan, and India. When people are asked: “What is the most dangerous predator in the world?”, Most of them name the tiger.

Among cats, this is indeed one of the most dangerous and large animals. Its weight reaches seven hundred kilograms or more. In search of prey, these predators are able to travel great distances, not only during the day, but also at night. In a day, in the case of a successful hunt, the tiger eats up to ten kilograms of meat.

His hunting is based on the surprise factor. Without making a single sound, striped beauties jump out of ambush and attack their prey. In an instant, they gnaw through the animal's vertebrae. Tigers can become cannibals when they lack food. In our time, the population of these felines around the world has significantly decreased.

Wolf

But these animals are widespread in our latitudes. They are the most dangerous predators in the world, living in the forest thicket. Wolves usually hunt in packs. This makes them even more dangerous as the victim has to fight several powerful assassins. Immediately several young and strong wolves begin to pursue the prey. The dominant male "leads" the chase. Nearby with him is always a dominant female. As soon as the victim accidentally stumbles and falls, a hungry ferocious flock pounces on it. Their sharp fangs tear the flesh in an instant, leaving the animal no chance of salvation.

Crocodile

The wild world is amazing and unpredictable. The most dangerous predators often remain almost invisible until the very attack. This primarily applies to the crocodile. It merges with the water surface and watches its potential prey. When the moment is right, the monster rolls and attacks.

The main weapons of crocodiles are powerful jaws and sharp teeth, which allow the predator to hunt many large animals. For example, the Nile crocodile is capable of killing a zebra or even a buffalo. The predator is waiting for the animals that go to his ambush to drink. He grabs them with his "iron" teeth and pulls them under the water. There, he begins to rapidly rotate his head until a piece of flesh is in his mouth.

komodo dragon

When looking at the photo below, it's hard to believe that you have a lizard in front of you. The length of this reptile reaches three meters, and the weight often exceeds one hundred and fifty kilograms. This is a fast and strong animal, capable of killing its prey, which is twice its size.

Victory in battle is guaranteed thanks to a poisonous bite. For this reason, an animal miraculously escaping from the arms of a predator dies after a short time. Usually the monitor lizard waits for prey in ambush. But if necessary, this one can swim and run. In one sitting, the monitor lizard eats about seventy kilograms of meat.

killer whale

The most dangerous predators in the world lie in wait for a person not only on land, but also in water. The name of this large animal is Killer Whale. It translates from English as "killer whale". It is indeed a very dangerous predator. The killer whale is an unsurpassed master of hunting, which is not surprising in the presence of enormous physical strength.

Of all the predators that live in the water, killer whale can boast of the most varied diet. She feeds on seals and penguins, which are enough under water. In addition, they catch big fish.

Killer whales are social animals, they live in the backwaters in the company of a dozen relatives. And go hunting in a group. Some of these predators are so ferocious and aggressive that they sometimes eat other aquatic carnivores.

brown bear

Brown bears (grizzlies) are found in North America. Local residents, as well as many experts, believe that these are the most dangerous animals on Earth. A ferocious huge beast often stands on its hind legs. Its height reaches two meters, with a weight of four hundred kilograms.

The grizzly has powerful jaws and paws that can easily deal with a person. This species of clubfoot is also dangerous because it is also an excellent swimmer. Meeting a person with a grizzly almost always ends in tragedy.

a lion

Often the most dangerous predators in the world receive very sonorous titles. For example, a lion is called nothing more than the king of beasts. And he lives up to his title. His strength allows him to hunt large animals (wildbeest or buffalo). These predators live in prides, all members of the family participate in the hunt. Adult animals play hunting with young ones. The acquired skills will certainly be useful to young individuals in their future adult life.

It is necessary to take into account the impressive size of these animals, their strength and power. All these qualities allow lions to take their rightful place in the list of "The most dangerous predators in the world."

Panther

This is one of the representatives of leopards. But, unlike them, panthers are melanistic animals, with one even color. Black cats are much more aggressive than leopards. They can approach a person quite close, because they do not feel fear of him at all.

Panther is a very graceful and beautiful animal. Her body in length can reach one hundred and eighty centimeters (including a tail one hundred and ten centimeters), with a mass of just under one hundred kilograms. Under natural conditions, it is found in tropical countries, especially common on the island of Java.

Panthers are very dexterous and cunning predators with well-developed sense organs. Of great importance in a successful hunt is color: they cannot be seen in the dark when they go hunting. In addition, they sneak up silently.

White shark

And yet, what is the most dangerous predator in the world? We talked about the fact that there is no unequivocal answer to this question, but most experts believe that, compared to all the others, the greatest threat to their "neighbors" is the great white shark. Yes, only a person who ventured to "visit" the mysterious underwater world is at risk. But this scary monster does not become less dangerous.

If this predator has chosen its prey, then not a single living creature has a chance to escape. The streamlined shape of the body allows the storm of the seas to move quickly, and the incredibly powerful jaws are a real killer weapon. The white shark can make surprisingly sharp maneuvers, despite its impressive size. In pursuit of the victim, she even jumps out of the water. Many sharp teeth determine the outcome of the hunt. By the way, an interesting fact: even if a shark loses a tooth, a new one grows very quickly, no less sharp.

Scientists say that in her whole life she changes up to fifty thousand teeth. When hunting, the shark always makes a "trial" bite, which should weaken the prey. While the prey loses strength, the predator waits. Only after some time the shark again swims up to the victim and eats it.

The most dangerous predators in the world: interesting facts

• The male crocodile has a real "harem" - about ten females.
• People arrange fasting days for themselves, and crocodiles have fasting years. A predator may not eat for a whole year.
• Crocodiles swallow stones that remain in the stomach, helping to grind food and normalizing the animal's center of gravity.
• The coat of bears is two-layered: the upper one - shorter - protects from the cold, and the longer one - from water.
• At the sight of a trap, a bear often rolls a stone towards it, and then eats the bait without risk.
• During hibernation, the bear's pulse slows down five times - from forty to eight beats per minute.

Original taken from billfish561 in Beautiful, but dangerous inhabitants of the seas and oceans.

A lot of creatures live in the sea and ocean waters, meeting with which can cause trouble to a person in the form of injury or even lead to disability or death.

Here I tried to describe the most common inhabitants of the sea, which should be wary of meeting in the water, relaxing and swimming on the beach of some resort or diving.
If you ask any person "... What is the most dangerous inhabitant of the seas and oceans?", then almost always we will hear the answer "... shark.... But is it so? Who is more dangerous, a shark or a seemingly harmless shell?

moray eels

Reaches a length of 3 m and weight - up to 10 kg, but as a rule, individuals are found about a meter long. The skin of the fish is naked, without scales. They are found in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, are widespread in the Mediterranean and Red Seas. Moray eels live in the bottom layer of water, one might say at the bottom. During the day, moray eels sit in crevices of rocks or corals, sticking their heads out and usually moving them from side to side, looking out for passing prey, at night they get out of their shelters to hunt. Usually moray eels feed on fish, but they attack both crustaceans and octopuses, which are caught from ambush.

Moray eel meat after processing can be eaten. It was especially valued by the ancient Romans.

Moray eels are potentially dangerous to humans. A diver who has become a victim of a moray eel attack always somehow provokes this attack - sticks his hand or foot into the crevice where the moray eel is hiding, or pursues it. The moray eel, attacking a person, inflicts a wound that looks like a barracuda bite mark, but unlike the barracuda, the moray eel does not immediately swim away, but hangs on its victim, like a bulldog. She can cling to the arm with a bulldog death grip, from which the diver cannot be freed, and then he may die.

It is not poisonous, but since moray eels do not disdain carrion, the wounds are very painful, do not heal for a long time and often become inflamed. Hiding among underwater rocks and coral reefs in crevices and caves.

When moray eels begin to feel hungry, they jump out of their shelters with an arrow and grab a victim floating by. Very voracious. Very strong jaws and sharp teeth.

In appearance, moray eels are not very pretty. But they do not attack scuba divers, as some believe, they do not differ in aggressiveness. Isolated cases occur only when moray eels have a mating season. If the moray eel mistakenly takes a person for a food source or he invades her territory, then she can still attack.

barracudas

All barracuda live in tropical and subtropical waters of the oceans near the surface. There are 8 species in the Red Sea, including the great barracuda. There are not so many species in the Mediterranean Sea - only 4, of which 2 moved there from the Red Sea through the Suez Canal. The so-called "malita", which has settled in the Mediterranean Sea, provides the bulk of the entire Israeli catch of barracudas. The most sinister feature of barracudas is a powerful lower jaw that protrudes far beyond the upper one. The jaws are equipped with formidable teeth: a row of small, razor-sharp teeth dot the jaw on the outside, and inside there is a row of large dagger-like teeth.

The maximum recorded size of a barracuda is 200 cm, weight - 50 kg, but usually the length of a barracuda does not exceed 1-2 m.

She is aggressive and fast. Barracudas are also called "live torpedoes" because they attack their prey with great speed.

Despite such a formidable name and ferocious appearance, these predators are practically harmless to humans. It should be remembered that all attacks on people happened in muddy or dark water, where the moving arms or legs of the swimmer were taken by the barracuda for swimming fish. (It was in this situation that the author of the blog got into in February 2014, when he was vacationing in Egypt, the Oriental Bay Resort Marsa Alam 4 + * (now called Aurora Oriental Bay Marsa Alam Resort 5*) Marsa Gabel el Rosas Bay . Medium-sized barracuda, 60-70 cm, almost bit off the 1st f alangu of the index finger on the right hand. A piece of a finger dangled on a 5mm piece of skin (dive gloves saved from complete amputation). At the Marsa Alam clinic, the surgeon put 4 stitches and saved the finger, but the rest was completely ruined ). In Cuba, the reason for attacking a person was shiny objects such as watches, jewelry, knives. It will not be superfluous if the shiny parts of the equipment are painted in a dark color.

The sharp teeth of the barracuda can damage the arteries and veins of the limbs; in this case, the bleeding must be stopped immediately, since the loss of blood can be significant. In the Antilles, barracudas are more feared than sharks.

Jellyfish

Every year, millions of people are exposed to "burns" from contact with jellyfish while swimming.

There are no especially dangerous jellyfish in the waters of the seas washing the Russian coast, the main thing is to prevent contact of these jellyfish with mucous membranes. In the Black Sea, it is easiest to meet such jellyfish as Aurelia and Cornerot. They are not very dangerous, and their "burns" are not very strong.

Aurelia "butterflies" (Aurelia aurita)

Medusa Cornerot (Rhizostoma pulmo)

Only in the Far Eastern seas lives enough dangerous for humans jellyfish "cross", the poison of which can even lead to the death of a person. This small jellyfish with a pattern in the form of a cross on an umbrella causes severe burns at the point of contact with it, and after a while causes other disorders in the human body - difficulty breathing, numbness of the limbs.

Jellyfish-cross (Gonionemus vertens)

the consequences of the burn of the jellyfish-cross

The farther south, the more dangerous the jellyfish. In the coastal waters of the Canary Islands, a pirate is waiting for careless swimmers - the "Portuguese boat" - a very beautiful jellyfish with a red crest and a multi-colored bubble-sail.

portuguese boat (Physalia physalis)

The "Portuguese boat" looks so harmless and beautiful in the sea ...

And so, the leg looks like after contact with the "Portuguese boat" ....

Many jellyfish live in the coastal waters of Thailand.

But the real scourge for bathers is the Australian "sea wasp". She kills with a light touch of multi-meter tentacles, which, by the way, can wander on their own without losing their deadly qualities. You can pay for acquaintance with the "sea wasp" at best with severe "burns" and lacerations, at worst - with life. More people have died from the sea wasp jellyfish than from sharks. This jellyfish lives in the warm waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, especially numerous off the coast of Northern Australia. The diameter of her umbrella is only 20-25 mm, but the tentacles reach a length of 7-8 m and they contain poison, similar in composition to cobra venom, but much stronger. A person touched by a "sea wasp" with its tentacles usually dies within 5 minutes.

Australian cubic (box) jellyfish or "sea wasp" (Chironex fleckeri)

sting from jellyfish "sea wasp"

Aggressive jellyfish also live in the Mediterranean and other waters of the Atlantic - the "burns" caused by them are stronger than the "burns" of the Black Sea jellyfish, and they cause allergic reactions more often. These include cyanidea ("hairy jellyfish"), pelagia ("little lilac sting"), chrysaora ("sea nettle") and some others.

jellyfish Atlantic cyanide (Cyanea capillata)

Pelagia (Noctiluca), known in Europe under the name "purple sting"

Pacific sea nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens)

Medusa "Compass" (coronatae)
Jellyfish "Compass" chose the coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea and one of the oceans - the Atlantic as their place of residence. They live off the coast of Turkey and the United Kingdom. These are quite large jellyfish, their diameter reaches thirty centimeters. They have twenty-four tentacles, which are arranged in groups of three each. The color of the body is yellowish-white with a brown tint, and its shape resembles a saucer-bell, in which thirty-two lobes are defined, which are colored brown along the edges.
The upper surface of the bell has sixteen V-shaped brown rays. The lower part of the bell is the location of the mouth opening, surrounded by four tentacles. These jellyfish are poisonous. Their venom is potent and often results in wounds that are very painful and take a long time to heal..
And yet the most dangerous jellyfish live in Australia and its adjacent waters. Burns of box jellyfish and "Portuguese man-of-war" are very serious and often fatal.

stingrays

Trouble can be delivered by rays of the stingray family and electric rays. It should be noted that the stingrays themselves do not attack a person, you can get injured if you step on him when this fish is hiding at the bottom.

stingray "stingray" (Dasyatidae)

Electric Stingray (torpediniformes)

Stingrays live in almost all seas and oceans. In our (Russian) waters you can meet a stingray or otherwise it is called a sea cat. It is found in the Black Sea and in the seas of the Pacific coast. If you step on a stingray buried in the sand or resting at the bottom, it can inflict a serious wound on the offender, and, in addition, inject poison into it. He has a thorn on his tail, or rather a real sword - up to 20 centimeters in length. Its edges are very sharp, and besides, jagged, along the blade, on the underside there is a groove in which dark poison from the poisonous gland on the tail is visible. If you hit a stingray lying at the bottom, it will hit with its tail like a whip; at the same time, he sticks out his thorn and can inflict a deep chopped wound. A stingray wound is treated like any other.

The sea fox stingray Raja clavata also lives in the Black Sea - large, it can be up to one and a half meters from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail, it is not dangerous for humans - unless, of course, you try to grab it by the tail, covered with long sharp spines. Electric rays are not found in the waters of the seas of Russia.

Sea anemones (anemones)

Sea anemones inhabit almost all the seas of the globe, but, like other coral polyps, they are especially numerous and diverse in warm waters. Most species live in coastal shallow waters, but they are often found at the maximum depths of the oceans. Sea anemones Usually, hungry sea anemones sit completely still, with tentacles widely spaced. At the slightest change in the water, the tentacles begin to oscillate, not only they stretch out to prey, but often the whole body of the sea anemone leans. Having grasped the prey, the tentacles contract and bend towards the mouth.

Anemones are well armed. Stinging cells are especially numerous in carnivorous species. A volley of fired stinging cells kills small organisms, often causing severe burns in larger animals, even humans. They can cause burns, just like some types of jellyfish.

Octopuses

Octopuses (Octopoda) are the most famous representatives of cephalopods. "Typical" octopuses are representatives of the suborder Incirrina, demersal animals. But some representatives of this suborder and all species of the second suborder, Cirrina, are pelagic animals that live in the water column, and many of them are found only at great depths.

They live in all tropical and subtropical seas and oceans, from shallow water to a depth of 100-150 m. They prefer rocky coastal zones, looking for caves and crevices in the rocks to inhabit. In the waters of the seas of Russia they live only in the Pacific region.

The common octopus has the ability to change color to adapt to its environment. This is due to the presence in his skin of cells with various pigments, capable of stretching or contracting under the influence of impulses from the central nervous system, depending on the perception of the senses. The usual color is brown. If the octopus is scared, it turns white, if angry, it turns red.

When approaching enemies (including divers or scuba divers), they flee, hiding in crevices of rocks and under stones.

The real danger is the bite of an octopus with careless handling. The secret of poisonous salivary glands can be introduced into the wound. In this case, acute pain and itching are felt in the area of ​​​​the bite.
When bitten by an ordinary octopus, a local inflammatory reaction occurs. Excessive bleeding indicates a slowdown in the clotting process. Usually after two or three days recovery occurs. However, cases of severe poisoning are known, in which symptoms of damage to the central nervous system occur. Wounds inflicted by octopuses are treated in the same way as injections from poisonous fish.

blue-ringed octopus (Blue-ringed Octopus)

One of the contenders for the title of the most dangerous marine animal for humans is the octopus Octopus maculosus, which is found along the coast of the Australian province of Queensland and near Sydney, is found in the Indian Ocean and, sometimes, in the Far East. Although the size of this octopus rarely exceeds 10 cm, it contains enough poison to kill ten people.

Lionfish

Lionfish (Pterois) of the Scorpaenidae family are of great danger to humans. They are easily recognizable by their rich and bright colors, which warn of effective defenses in these fish. Even marine predators prefer to leave this fish alone. The fins of this fish look like brightly colored feathers. Physical contact with such fish can be fatal.

Lionfish (Pterois)

Despite its name, it cannot fly. The fish got this nickname because of the large pectoral fins, a bit like wings. Other names for lionfish are zebra fish or lion fish. She received the first because of the wide gray, brown and red stripes located throughout her body, and the second - she owes long fins, which make her look like a predatory lion.

The lionfish belongs to the scorpion family. Body length reaches 30 cm, and weight - 1 kg. The coloration is bright, which makes the lionfish noticeable even at great depths. The main decoration of the lionfish is the long ribbons of the dorsal and pectoral fins, it is they that resemble the lion's mane. These luxurious fins hide sharp poisonous needles that make the lionfish one of the most dangerous inhabitants of the seas.

The lionfish is widespread in the tropical parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans off the coast of China, Japan and Australia. It lives mainly among coral reefs. Lionfish Since it lives in the surface waters of the reef, it therefore poses a great danger to bathers who can step on it and injure themselves on sharp poisonous needles. The excruciating pain that occurs in this case is accompanied by the formation of a tumor, breathing becomes difficult, and in some cases, the injury leads to death.

The fish itself is very voracious and eats all kinds of crustaceans and small fish during night hunting. The most dangerous are pufferfish, boxfish, sea dragon, hedgehog fish, ball fish, etc. We must remember only one rule: the more colorful the coloring of the fish and the more unusual its shape, the more poisonous it is.

stellate pufferfish (Tetraodontidae)

Cube body or box fish (Ostraction cubicus)

hedgehog fish (Diodontidae)

fish ball (Diodontidae)

In the Black Sea, there are relatives of the lionfish - the noticeable scorpionfish (Scorpaena notata), it is no more than 15 centimeters in length, and the Black Sea scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus) - up to half a meter - but such large ones are found deeper, further from the coast. The main difference between the Black Sea scorpionfish is long, similar to rag patches, supraorbital tentacles. In the conspicuous scorpion, these outgrowths are short.

conspicuous scorpionfish (Scorpaena notata)

black sea scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus)

The body of these fish is covered with spikes and outgrowths, the spikes are covered with poisonous mucus. And although the poison of the scorpionfish is not as dangerous as the poison of the lionfish, it is better not to disturb it.

Among the dangerous Black Sea fish, the sea dragon (Trachinus draco) should be noted. Elongated, snake-like, with an angular large head, bottom fish. Like other bottom predators, the dragon has bulging eyes on the top of its head and a huge, greedy mouth.

sea ​​dragon (Trachinus draco)

The consequences of a poisonous injection of a dragon are much more serious than in the case of a scorpionfish, but not fatal.

Wounds from the thorns of a scorpion or dragon cause burning pain, the area around the injections turns red and swells, then - general malaise, fever, and your rest is interrupted for a day or two. If you have suffered from the thorns of a ruff, consult a doctor. Wounds should be treated like normal scratches.

The "stone fish" or Wartyfish (Synanceia verrucosa) also belongs to the scorpion family - no less, and in some cases more dangerous than lionfish.

"fish stone" or warty (Synanceia verrucosa)

sea ​​urchins

Often in shallow waters there is a risk of stepping on a sea urchin.

Sea urchins are one of the most common and very dangerous inhabitants of coral reefs. The body of a hedgehog the size of an apple is studded with 30-centimeter needles sticking out in all directions, similar to knitting needles. They are very mobile, sensitive and instantly react to irritation.

If a shadow suddenly falls on the hedgehog, he immediately directs the needles in the direction of danger and puts them together in several pieces into a sharp, hard pike. Even gloves and wetsuits do not guarantee complete protection against the formidable peaks of the sea urchin. The needles are so sharp and fragile that, having penetrated deep into the skin, they immediately break off and it is extremely difficult to remove them from the wound. In addition to needles, hedgehogs are armed with small grasping organs - pedicillaria, scattered at the base of the needles.

The venom of sea urchins is not dangerous, but causes burning pain at the injection site, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, transient paralysis. And soon redness, swelling appear, sometimes there is a loss of sensitivity and a secondary infection. The wound must be cleaned of needles, disinfected, to neutralize the poison, hold the damaged part of the body in very hot water for 30-90 minutes or apply a pressure bandage.

After meeting with a black "long-spined" sea urchin, black dots may remain on the skin - this is a trace of pigment, it is harmless, but it can make it difficult to find needles stuck in you. Seek medical advice after first aid.

Shells (clams)

Often on the reef among the corals there are wavy wings of bright blue.

clam tridacna (Tridacna gigas)

According to some reports, divers sometimes fall between its wings, like in a trap, which leads to their death. The danger of tridacna, however, is greatly exaggerated. These mollusks live in shallow reef areas in clear tropical waters, so they are easy to spot due to their large size, brightly colored mantle, and ability to splash water at low tide. A diver captured by a shell can easily free himself, you just need to stick a knife between the valves and cut the two muscles that compress the valves.

Poison Clam Cone (Conidae)
Do not touch beautiful shells (especially large ones). Here it is worth remembering one rule: all mollusks that have a long, thin and pointed ovipositor are poisonous. These are representatives of the cone genus of the gastropod class, having a brightly colored conical shell. Its length in most species does not exceed 15-20 cm. The cone inflicts a prick as sharp as a needle with a spike that protrudes from the narrow end of the shell. Inside the spike passes the duct of the poisonous gland, through which a very strong poison is injected into the wound.

Various species of the cone genus are common in coastal shallows and coral reefs of warm seas.

At the moment of injection, a sharp pain is felt. At the injection site of the spike, a reddish dot is visible against the background of pale skin.

Local inflammatory reaction is insignificant. There is a feeling of acute pain or burning, numbness of the affected limb may occur. In severe cases, there is difficulty in speech, flaccid paralysis quickly develops, and knee jerks disappear. In a few hours, death may occur.

With mild poisoning, all symptoms disappear within a day.

First aid is to remove fragments of the thorn from the skin. The affected area is wiped with alcohol. The affected limb is immobilized. The patient in the supine position is taken to the medical center.

corals

Corals, both living and dead, can cause painful cuts (be careful when walking on coral islands). And the so-called "fire" corals are armed with poisonous needles that dig into the human body in case of physical contact with them.

The basis of the coral is polyps - marine invertebrates 1-1.5 mm in size or slightly larger (depending on the species).

Barely born, the baby polyp begins to build a cell house, in which he spends his entire life. Microhouses of polyps are grouped into colonies from which a coral reef eventually appears.

Hungry, the polyp sticks out tentacles with many stinging cells from the "house". The smallest animals that make up plankton encounter the tentacles of a polyp, which paralyzes the victim and sends it into the mouth opening. Despite their microscopic size, the stinging cells of polyps have a very complex structure. Inside the cell is a capsule filled with poison. The outer end of the capsule is concave and looks like a thin tube twisted in a spiral, which is called a stinging thread. This tube, covered with the smallest spikes pointing backwards, resembles a miniature harpoon. When touched, the stinging thread straightens, the "harpoon" pierces the body of the victim, and the poison passing through it paralyzes the prey.

Poisoned "harpoons" of corals can also injure a person. Among the dangerous ones is, for example, fire coral. Its colonies in the form of "trees" made of thin plates have chosen the shallow waters of tropical seas.

The most dangerous stinging corals of the Millepore genus are so beautiful that scuba divers cannot resist the temptation to break off a piece as a keepsake. This can be done without "burns" and cuts only in canvas or leather gloves.

fire coral (Millepora dichotoma)

Talking about such passive animals as coral polyps, it is worth mentioning another interesting type of marine animals - sponges. Usually sponges are not classified as dangerous inhabitants of the sea, however, in the waters of the Caribbean there are some species that can cause severe skin irritation in a swimmer upon contact with them. It is believed that the pain can be relieved with a weak solution of vinegar, but the unpleasant effects from contact with the sponge can last for several days. These primitive animals belong to the genus Fibula and are often referred to as touchy sponges.

Sea snakes (Hydrophidae)

Little is known about sea snakes. This is strange, since they live in all the seas of the Pacific and Indian Oceans and are not among the rare inhabitants of the deep sea. Maybe it's because people just don't want to deal with them.

And there are serious reasons for this. After all, sea snakes are dangerous and unpredictable.

There are about 48 species of sea snakes. This family once left the land and completely switched to an aquatic lifestyle. Because of this, sea snakes have acquired some features in the structure of the body, and outwardly they are somewhat different from their terrestrial counterparts. The body is flattened from the sides, the tail is in the form of a flat ribbon (for flat-tailed representatives) or slightly elongated (for dovetails). The nostrils are not located on the sides, but at the top, so it is more convenient for them to breathe, sticking the tip of the muzzle out of the water. The lung stretches throughout the body, but these snakes absorb up to a third of all oxygen from the water with the help of the skin, which is densely penetrated by blood capillaries. Under water, a sea snake can stay for more than an hour.

The venom of a sea snake is dangerous to humans. Their poison is dominated by an enzyme that paralyzes the nervous system. When attacking, the snake quickly strikes with two short teeth, slightly bent back. The bite is almost painless, there is no swelling or hemorrhage.

But after some time, weakness appears, coordination is disturbed, convulsions begin. Death occurs from paralysis of the lungs in a few hours.

The high toxicity of the venom of these snakes is a direct result of aquatic habitation: in order for the prey not to run away, it must be instantly paralyzed. True, the poison of sea snakes is not as dangerous as the poison of snakes that live with us on land. When bitten by flattails, 1 mg of poison is released, and when bitten by a dovetail, 16 mg. So, a person has a chance to survive. Of the 10 bitten by sea snakes, 7 people remain alive, of course, if they receive medical assistance on time.

True, there is no guarantee that you will be among the latter.

Among other dangerous aquatic animals, especially dangerous freshwater inhabitants should be mentioned - crocodiles that live in the tropics and subtropics, piranha fish that live in the Amazon River basin, freshwater electric rays, as well as fish whose meat or some organs are poisonous and can cause acute poisoning.

If you are interested in more detailed information about dangerous species of jellyfish and corals, you can find it at http://medusy.ru/

Some deep dwellers would love to feast on us, but most are only dangerous if you attack them first. You can call it the principle of "accidentally stepped, poisoned and died." Who should not be attacked in this case?

The Portuguese boat is a whole colony of jellyfish that hunts other marine life with the help of long poisonous tentacles. The base of the "ship" at this time floats on the surface of the water, but it is easy to miss. Every year they poison several thousand people.

Box jellyfish have long been famous as one of the most dangerous creatures off the coast of Australia. Their tentacles, up to 60 pieces, reach a length of four meters. The poison in some of their species can paralyze a person at one touch and make them choke.

Blue-ringed octopuses are as legendary among mollusks as box jellyfish are among cnidarians. These are the most poisonous creatures in all the oceans of the world, the attack of which leads to paralysis and death.

Great white sharks are much scarier on screen than in real life, but that doesn't make them any less formidable predators. At least 74 unprovoked attacks on people have been recorded, including attacks on fishing boats.

Sea snakes are equipped with a stronger toxic venom than their land-based relatives, simply because fish are not as sensitive to poison. Their venom, like all asps, has a paralyzing effect. Luckily for humans, they use their weapons mostly for hunting purposes, and when handled carefully, they don't bite.

Lionfish do not waste time on spikes, generously exposing them all over the body. They are quite successful in preying on other fish, capturing even territories that are not needed for the survival of their species. Due to their toxicity and prevalence, lionfish are a real headache for fishermen.

Crocodiles mostly prefer rivers, but their largest representative, the combed crocodile, is not averse to swimming in salt water. Males of this species grow up to seven meters in length and two tons in weight. Aggressive specimens often attack people.

Large barracudas are impressive predators, growing up to two meters in length. Their teeth are considered to be among the sharpest and most painful of all the marine world. Barracudas often follow divers out of sheer curiosity, but rarely attack. True, if this happens, then death is guaranteed.