Tiger shark

(Galeocerdo cuvier)

One of the largest, widespread, characteristically colored and dangerous to humans species of sharks. There is evidence that specimens up to 9 m long were caught with nets, although the officially registered parameters are as follows: length - 750 cm, weight - 807.4 kg. The recorded life expectancy is 50 years.

The gray back and sides are covered with dark brown spots, merging into oblique and transverse stripes. As the fish matures, the spots begin to fade from head to tail. The bottom is white. The head is sharply rounded, the mouth is wide. The tiger shark is omnivorous and illegible in its diet, it considers a person to be no worse dish than a leather boot, a potato or a sea turtle. Attacks on humans have occurred throughout the range of this species. A feature of the predator is that it prefers to scour the shallow water of the bays, climbing even into the mouths of the rivers, that is, in the most attractive places for bathers. Although it can also be found in the open ocean, near small islands. The tiger shark can attack boats. Actually, this is the second predator after the Great White Shark in the ranking of the most dangerous killer sharks. 27 cases of tiger shark attacks on humans have been reliably documented. With all this, the shark is rather slow (it only revives when it smells food) and, having fallen on the hook, after the first sharp resistance, surrenders to the mercy of the winner. The IGFA record was set at Cherry Grove (South Carolina, USA) and amounted to 807.4 kg.

Coral hind

(Cephalopholis mineata)

Most species are medium and large fish, up to a meter long, however, there are also dwarfs (about 10 cm 100 grams) and giants (up to 3 meters, and according to some sources up to 6 m, and weighing more than 450 kg).

The giant grouper Epinephelus lanceolatus, 270 cm long and weighing 400 kg, lives in the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In the Western Pacific, the grouper Epinephelus itajara is found, 250 cm long and weighing 455 kg. There is evidence that groupers grew so large that they could swallow a swimmer or even a diver. Arthur Clark wrote that while diving off the coast of Sri Lanka, he found himself side by side with a grouper 6.1 m long and 1.2 m thick, which lived in a sunken floating dock. But in order to swallow a diver, a grouper will need a throat that can expand up to 0.61 sq.m. Growing up to such large dimensions and having a militant disposition, this fish is not at all "harmless". They are fiercely protective of their territory, and can cause serious injury to those who, in the opinion of the fish, have invaded it.

All representatives of this family are real predators. Serranovye early switch to a predatory lifestyle; young fish 2-3 cm long feed mainly on juvenile fish, while cases of cannibalism are often observed, which is also observed in adults. Usually groupers do not chase their prey in open space, but lie in wait for it in ambush. These are massive fish and their structure does not allow them to swim quickly over long distances. Groupers have a large head and a very wide mouth. Its upper lip is attached to its head with ligaments and skin folds, and when the fish lowers its lower jaw, the mouth takes the form of a tube for sucking prey. They do not have very many teeth, but there are strong crushing plates located inside the pharynx. When a suitable prey appears, the grouper opens its mouth and sucks it in from a distance, along with water, sometimes accompanying this movement with a sharp throw. They feed on small sharks, fish, lobsters, rays, young sea turtles, etc. Groupers also use their mouths to burrow into the ground for shelters under large rocks, while shooting a jet through their gills. The muscles of their gills are so strong that it is almost impossible to get the fish out of its cave when, feeling attacked, it expands its gills, thus blocking itself in the cave.

The coloration of groupers is very diverse, often on a dark background there is a bright pattern of dots, stripes or spots, in some species the dark color is accompanied by bright spots on the fins. Small species are usually brighter, sometimes even red or yellow, especially this coloration is typical for lyopropoma. However, large species are not far behind in beauty, for example, a black body with a bright yellow throat and thin white pepper stripes on the sides can have a one and a half meter grouper. The grouper changes its bright and varied coloring depending on its mood.

Yellowfin tuna

(Thunnus albacares)

It got its name due to the orange-yellow coloration of the soft dorsal and anal fins, which stand out noticeably against the dark "metallic" dorsal part of the body, passing through the dark blue and yellow to the silvery belly.

The largest recorded parameters: length - 239 cm, weight - 200 kg. The longest recorded life expectancy is 9 years.

A typically oceanic species, living above and below the thermocline, only rarely found near reef islands. It is sensitive to low oxygen content and therefore does not occur at depths of more than 250 m. It forms flocks of individuals of the same or different species. Feeds on fish, crustaceans and squid. In February 2010, we set the official Seychelles record (82 kg). The previous record (64 kg.) lasted more than five years. In industrial fishing, specimens weighing up to 180 kg regularly come across.