Fish-dog - deadly predator

The fish-dog belongs to the detachment of skalozubovyh or pufferfish, and counts more than ninety species. From other fish, it has a unique ability to swell, when frightened, swallowing a large volume of water or air. At the same time, it prickles with spines, sprinkling a nerve agent called tetrodotoxin, which is 1200 times more effective than cyanide potassium.

The dog-fish because of a special structure of a teeth has received the name skalozuboj. Fugue teeth are very strong, fused together, and look like four plates. With their help, she splits shells of mollusks and shells of crabs, mining forage. A rare case is known when still a live fish, not wanting to be eaten, bit off a finger to the cook.

Some species of fish are also capable of biting, but the main danger is its meat.

In Japan, this exotic fish is called fugu, skillfully cooked, it takes first place in the list of delicacies of local cuisine. The price for one serving of this dish is $ 750.

When an amateur chef takes his preparation, the degustation ends with a lethal outcome, since the skin and internal organs of this fish contain the strongest poison. First, the tip of the tongue becomes numb, then the limbs, followed by cramps and instant death. When the fish is eviscerated, the dog emits a foul odor.

The most common types of dog-fish are :

• Belokropchatuju, dwelling in a tropical zone of Pacific ocean and waters of Indonesia.
• Maki-maki, who prefers the tropical part of the Pacific and Indian oceans for life.
• Ringed, living in the tropical coastal waters of South and Central America, which are washed by the Pacific Ocean.
• Blacksmith, who is an inhabitant of the Indo-Pacific region from Polynesia to the shores of East Africa, and also the Red Sea.

A red-eared or ocellated fish dog has a thick elongated body, a thick-lipped mouth, a back, a lower part of the head, and a belly are covered with small spines. There is one fin on the back, there are no ventral fins, pectoral fins are wide and small, and the caudal fin is truncated. Under the eyes are small tentacles with organs of smell - nostrils. Like all puffers, the iris pupils are mobile, with a green or blue color. The teeth are connected to each other and form a merged cutting insert.

The length of the fish-dog can reach up to 50 cm. The whole body is basically the same color with many small spots and a large dark spot with a light edging behind the pectoral fin, which form a pattern similar to the eye. The same spot is located at the base of the dorsal fin. Because of these spots, the fish were given the name "eye", and thanks to the reddish fins it is called the red-nosed fin.

Depending on the variety, the fish-dog has a different coloring - from light sand to dark gray with spots all over the body, leopard or lilac with bright yellow stripes.

The fish-dog is inactive and moves with the help of the dorsal, thoracic and anal fins, which are located behind, and the caudal fin usually uses as a helm. Special musculature allows it to swim not only forward, but also back, which compensates for low speed.

With mating courtships, the male and female swirl at the bottom, then the female lays eggs on the stone, and the male, fertilizing them, closes the mantle with the body and remains guarding its offspring. Within a few days, tadpoles similar to tadpoles appear. A male in a deepening made in the soil carries them, continuing to guard them until they themselves start to eat.

First offspring feeds on small infusoria, and then the diet becomes more diverse. Most species of these fish are omnivorous, although preference is given to animal food, mainly invertebrate animals.