Lamnidae
Salmon shark
Lamna ditropis
FISH SPECIES
Predatory Fish
Explore carnivorous fishes equipped with acute senses, explosive acceleration and specialized jaws designed to capture animal prey.
FISH ATLAS / FIELD GUIDEPredatory FishIN THIS CHAPTER01 / Characteristics02 / Lifestyle03 / Species04 / Field notes
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01 / NATURAL HISTORY
Characteristics
Carnivorous fish species possess high-velocity burst swimming adaptations, sharp cardiform or canine dentition, and short, highly acidic gastrointestinal systems optimized for rapid protein breakdown.
- 01Explosive burst acceleration
- 02Specialized teeth & jaw mechanics
- 03Keen sensory prey detection
02 / LIFESTYLE
Lifestyle
Predators structure their lives around energy conservation between brief, decisive strikes. Ambush specialists blend into structure until launching millimeter-precision lunges powered by fast-twitch glycolytic muscle fibers; roving open-water hunters track prey schools over expansive ranges; and benthic ambushers generate vacuum pressure through rapid buccal expansion to engulf victims whole before they touch teeth.
OBSERVATION INDEX
- Fast-twitch burst ambush strikes
- Open-water pursuit of schools
- Rapid buccal vacuum engulfment
03 / SPECIES
Representative species
Discover representative species illustrating the ecological diversity, morphologies and adaptations of this group.
Salmon shark
Sphyrnidae
Scalloped hammerhead
Sphyrna lewini
Anguillidae
Short-finned eel
Anguilla australis
Lamnidae
Shortfin mako
Isurus oxyrinchus
Osteoglossidae
Silver arowana
Osteoglossum bicirrhosum
Scombridae
Skipjack tuna
Katsuwonus pelamis
Sphyrnidae
Smooth hammerhead
Sphyrna zygaena
Muraenidae
Snowflake moray
Echidna nebulosa
Osteoglossidae
Southern saratoga
Scleropages leichardti
Syngnathidae
Spotted seahorse
Hippocampus kuda
Istiophoridae
Striped marlin
Kajikia audax
Salmonidae
Taimen
Hucho taimen
Rajidae
Thornback ray
Raja clavata
Rajidae
Thorny skate
Amblyraja radiata
Galeocerdonidae
Tiger shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
Scombridae
Wahoo
Acanthocybium solandri
Istiophoridae
White marlin
Kajikia albida
Carcharhinidae
Whitetip reef shark
Triaenodon obesus
Sphyrnidae
Winghead shark
Eusphyra blochii
Labridae
Yellow wrasse
Halichoeres chrysus
Scombridae
Yellowfin tuna
Thunnus albacares
Labridae
Yellowtail coris
Coris gaimard
04 / FIELD NOTES
A closer look
How does suction feeding work in predatory fish?
In species like groupers and largemouth bass, the oral cavity and gill covers expand outward in less than 15 milliseconds, dropping internal pressure and creating a powerful torrent of water that sweeps the prey directly into the gullet.
Why do predatory fish have shorter intestines than herbivores?
Animal protein and fats are easily digested and absorbed with strong stomach acids, requiring only a short digestive tract, whereas fibrous plant matter requires long intestines and fermentation time.