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Pikes & mudminnows

9 species · 2 families

Pikes are slender ambush predators of fresh water, instantly recognised by their long, flattened snout full of sharp teeth and the dorsal and anal fins set far back. That fin placement gives them explosive acceleration to strike from cover. The green-and-yellow marbled body camouflages perfectly among water plants. They live alone and hunt fish, amphibians and sometimes small waterbirds. The pike is one of the best-known predatory fish for anglers; the small mudminnows are distant relatives.

Umbridae 5 Esocidae 4