Piranhas stick together
in shoals for safetyLong, pointed jaws have
big, sharp teeth to give
the pike a good grip
on slippery prey29
(^6) SALMON
Big, powerful salmon spend most of
their lives at sea, but swim upstream
to the shallow rivers with gravelly
bottoms where they breed. They
have adaptations that allow them to
move between fresh and salt water.
(^7) CARP
Able to live in water that has very
little oxygen, carp are well equipped
for life in warm, still lakes and ponds.
They feed by using their extendible
jaws to root around on the bottom
for small animals and aquatic plants.
(^8) VELVET CICHLID
Better known by its common name, Oscar,
this species lives in slow-flowing South
American rivers and digs in the riverbeds
for small animals such as worms and
freshwater shrimps. There are currently
1,721 species of cichlids known.
(^9) STICKLEBACK
This fish gets its name from the sharp
spines on its back. It lives in ponds, rivers,
and lakes, and some shallow seas. In
spring, the male makes a nest of plant
fibre, and does a dance to attract
females to lay their eggs.
(^10) PIKE
This powerful hunter lives in lakes
and slow-flowing rivers throughout
Europe, northern Asia, and North
America. Pike hunt fish and waterbirds
by lying in wait among aquatic plants
and darting out to seize victims.
(^11) PIRANHA
Notorious for its sharp teeth, this
South American predator mainly
preys on other fishes, but may strip
the meat from larger carcasses of
dead animals.
Three sharp spines help
to defend the stickleback
from bigger predatory fish
Tough, shiny scales help
protect the carp’s skin from
injury and attack by parasites
The colours of this
cichlid are variable,
changing as the fish
grows older
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