Sea Creatures That Can Hunt on Land!
From killer whales and walking fish … to tiger sharks and snakehead fish … Here are 10 sea creatures that hunt land animals
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#6 Snakehead Fish
These long, predatory fish will generally measure a little over 3 feet long (100 cm). But the largest specimen on record was documented in 2018. That one was killed in Maryland (mare-uh-lind) and weighed nearly 20 pounds (9 kg) while measuring some 35 inches (89 cm). They originated in China and Russia, then was later introduced into other parts of the world. In many places it is now considered an invasive species. There’s a good reason for concern because these beasts have insatiable appetites and can destroy the ecosystems of lakes and streams. They have several physical traits that distinguish them.. That includes their long dorsal fins with dozens of rays and wide mouths that are crammed with sharp, shiny teeth. As if they weren’t enough of a terror in the water, Snakeheads can live on land for several days thanks to its unusual respiratory system. They can also travel for short distances over land by using a wriggling motion. In Australia they’ve been observed to leave the water to hunt rodents, waterbirds and snakes.
#5 African Tiger Fish
These critters are found in various lakes and rivers of the continent, and are known for their fearsome, proportionately large teeth. There are five species, and larger ones like the Goliath Tigerfish have been known to weigh more than 110 pounds (50 kg) and measure five feet long (1.5 m)! But the variety that made our list goes about 1 meter long (3.3 feet). Reports of smaller species of tiger fish leaping out of the water to snatch low-flying birds had circulated around Africa since the 1940s. In 2014 the first direct evidence of the creature’s ability to do this was documented at a South African lake as it snatched a barn swallow out of the air. It’s considered the first definitive proof of a freshwater fish preying on a bird in flight, and it’s the only one known to employ this hunting method. Experts say the fish can track the bird from below the water’s surface, and time their leap to catch it. Or they will wait underwater until the bird flies past and then make the leap.
#4 Eel Catfish
Found in the swamps of Central Africa, this air-breathing catfish is known for its ability to hunt in or out of the water. At about 13 inches long (33 cm) they can propel themselves out of the water to capture prey. They have evolved specific strategies for dealing with prey according to the habitat. In the water, the fish will suck food and water into its mouth. On land, the eel takes its prey by lifting the front of its body and then bending its mouth down on the victim. Very often those land based prey are beetles which the fish will carry in its jaw to eat in the water. Experts say that the eel’s contortion is made possible due to an adaptation in its spine.
#3 Mudskippers
There are 32 species of this amphibious fish which are known to use their fins to walk on mud. Since that walking motion can resemble skipping, their nickname is understandable. In the water, these fish will breathe through their gills. They can survive on land for a time thanks to some physical adaptations that enable them to breathe through the lining of their mouth and through their skin. That method is similar to amphibians, but it only works when the fish are wet or moist. That’s why they only show up in tropical or subtropical environments including the Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic coast of Africa. They can stay active out of the water as they engage in defending their territory, mating, and feeding. Mudskippers will not only feed on worms and insects, but also upon their fellow mudskippers!
#2 Rainbow Trout
These fish are known as hardcore predators that will chow down on anything they can capture. That diverse diet can include insects, crustaceans, and smaller fish. It wasn’t until 2013 that researchers discovered that rainbow trout had an appetite for small land mammals. That’s when a specimen was found with 20 shrews in its belly. It was subsequently shown that the trout also prey on voles, mice, and any other small mammals that are plentiful within its range. The fish are known for their ability to leap high out of the water. But experts still don’t know exactly how the trout capture their mammalian prey. It’s possible that the victims are caught when they wander too close to the edge of a riverbank. Some, like shrews, will enter shallow streams in search of insects. That makes them easy prey for the rainbow trout.
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