Crocodile fish

crocodile fish

There are fish that get their name from the way they look, as with the stone fish, and because they resemble other animals, such as the Roosterfish. This is the case of crocodile fish. As its name suggests, it is a fish that looks very similar to that of a crocodile. Its scientific name is atractosteus spatula. It is famous, not only for its looks, but because it has the ability to get in and out of the water. It is capable of being up to two hours maximum out of the water without any problem. It really is a curious fish that is worth knowing.

In this article we are going to explain everything about this crocodile fish, from its main characteristics to its feeding and reproduction. You want to know more?

Key features

Crocodile fish detail

The ability of this fish to enter and exit the water it is fantastic as it gives you great versatility in your life. Fish are limited to the aquatic environment and, even if there is food near them, the fact that it is out of the water already prevents you from accessing it.

The crocodile appearance is more pronounced on the face, given that it has an elongated snout and a shorter lower jaw. It is quite large in size, reaching almost 3 meters long and weighing 200 kilos. There are actually people who, upon seeing it, have confused it with real crocodiles. Females are usually larger than the male, as in many other species. de peces.

Their skin color is dark brown on the upper part and a more yellowish white on the lower part. Come on, it's similar to a whole crocodile. The reason for this resemblance has no explanation. Reptiles and fish do not share too many characteristics that these two species are so similar. It has fins with brown spots and some have a clear line on their flanks.

Range and habitat

Atractosteus spatula in its habitat

The crocodile fish usually inhabit large lakes, rivers and some swamps. They live in fresh water, although they could also do it in salt water. Its area of ​​distribution covers large areas of America. It can be found at river mouths like Ohio and Mississippi. It also inhabits huge lakes such as Eire and Michigan (known for being one of the largest lakes in the world) and in areas such as Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida and Texas.

It prefers waters that are shallower to have better visibility to its prey. The open waters are his favorites, as he has more room to prepare his attack. As usual, they move in waters whose depth is between 3 and 5 meters and some backwaters with stagnant waters.

As they are able to be out of the water for a few hours, they can be found near the water sunbathing as if they were turtles. They are placed next to trees, brush or logs that fall into the water. Since it is a kind of coast, we will always find it near banks where there may be weeds. It is rare to see them in discovered sites where they have no protection at all.

Crocodile fish diet

atractosteus spatula

As expected, It is a fish whose diet is only carnivorous. They love to devour other fish smaller than themselves. Although he not only eats other smaller fish, but when hunger strikes, he eats almost anything. They love crustaceans like shrimp and crabs and can eat waterfowl, turtles, and even small mammals.

Even if hunger is pressing and there are not enough resources around you, it can eat the carrion that is on the way. Although it is a fish that seems slow due to its size and weight, it is capable of attacking its prey with great speed and certainty.

Reproduction

Crocodile fish reproduction

This species has a behavior that is not common in other species de peces. For example, they have the habit of gathering large numbers of males in shallow water and near vegetation. It is there where they are placed, one by one, to compete to see who wins the female. We must bear in mind that females can let more than one male fertilize the eggs. Therefore, the reason for which they compete is really serious.

When females lay their eggs, they stick to rocks or vegetation to grow. The eggs are green and red. The mechanism of adhering to substrates is survival. In case of being spotted by other predators and running the risk of being swallowed, they have another even greater defense mechanism: they are poisonous. If another animal ingests the eggs, it will be poisoned.

Spawning takes place more or less between the months of February to June. They do not have a fixed place, but each date can vary. They just need weeds and shallow water.

These fish have a life expectancy between 25 and 50 years. Depending on the environmental conditions present, they may last longer or shorter. Females generally live longer than males.

Thanks to their size and shape, these animals have hardly any natural predators in their habitat. When they are fry if they have to be careful with the american alligator, since they love crocodile fish when they are young.

Fingerling development

Crocodile fish fry

When crocodile fish hatch from the egg, they are tiny larvae just 2,5 cm long. They are very fragile and thin. They can move thanks to the movement exerted by the filament that has as a tail, although this filament does not last long. It does not have growth problems, since it does so at high speed. Just 2 years old, we can find fully adult and developed specimens.

Although the females manage to have a larger final size, the males are able to grow and mature earlier. Perhaps this is the reason why they have a shorter life expectancy. While the males grow 48 cm per year, the female only grows at a rate of 38 cm.

I hope that with this information you can learn more about the crocodile fish.


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