Welcome to Top10Archive!
We've all heard the expression "a fish out of water" - that's exactly what we are when
we compare ourselves to the master swimmers some of these marine animals are.
You may be surprised to know #1 can swim faster than a Cheetah can run..
10.
Bone Fish The bone fish inhabits tropical and warm temperate
waters worldwide and travel in schools until adulthood, then go at life solo.
They can get to be 14 pounds or 6 kilograms in weight and 2.5 feet or 77 centimeters in
length.
The top half of the bone fish is a bluish-green color, with bright silver scales along its
sides and underbelly.
Distinctive characteristics include a sucker type mouth, a cone-shaped head and a deeply
forked tail.
They also have no spine, helping them as a bottom dweller, while they feed on crabs,
shrimp, and worms.
Whole schools may be easily spooked, but Bonefish are built for speed out of necessity, as it
is their only defense against predators.
At short bursts of speed, Bonefish can reach 40 miles or 64 kilometers per hour.
9.
Blue Sharks It is highly unlikely that you'll ever see
this shark, that is, unless you're diving; blue sharks are found in deep subtropical
waters in cooler areas.
They sometimes travel thousands of miles in order to follow food sources, preferring squid
as their main course, though they will eat other smaller sharks, mollusks and various
fish.
Obtaining food is a bit easier for the blue shark, as they are one of the few species
that will stick together, hunting in small packs.
On average, these sharks will get to 12.5 feet or 4 meters in length and 450 pounds
or 204 kilograms in weight, which is not as hefty as most sharks.
Though rarely, Blue Sharks have been known to attack humans and boats, and are considered
a dangerous species.
Over short distances, the Blue Shark can reach speeds of 43 miles or 69 kilometers per hour.
8.
Wahoo The Wahoo fish, located in tropic and sub-tropic
saltwater areas across the world, are medium sized creatures with the largest Wahoo being
a reported a 8 feet or 2.4 meters in length and about 184 pounds or 83 kilograms in weight.
The overwhelming abundance of this fish has made it a target for commercial fisherman
and scientists alike.
Often mistaken for a mackerel, their difference lies in a patch of skin that covers the mouth
of the Wahoo when closed, and the Wahoo's mandible does not show prominently.
They sport razor-sharp teeth as well as bladelike fins, which they use to help propel them through
the water at around 48 miles or 77 kilometers per hour.
Considered to be highly aggressive, any fish or animal that can fit in its mouth is considered
food, but they are mainly known to eat squid. 7.
Yellowfin Tuna The most colorful of all tunas, their back
is bluish black, fading into silver on the lower flanks and belly with a golden yellow
or iridescent blue stripe that runs from the eye to the tail.
Yellowfin Tuna have been reported to be as large as 8 feet or 2.4 meters in length and
weigh up to 440 pounds or 229 kilograms.
Found worldwide in warm temperate waters, its diet depends on the local cuisine, which
range from flying fish, squid, crustaceans and other small fish.
They are migratory and travel in schools, consisting of other fish their size, which
include whale sharks, whales, porpoises and dolphins.
Able to fold their fins inward, this allowed the Yellowfish Tuna to streamline their torsos
and maximized their swimming speeds up to 50 miles or 80 kilometers per hour.
6.
Blue Marlin Largest amongst the billfish family, they
reach a length of 14 feet or 4.25 meters and weigh more than 2,000lbs or 900 kilograms.
Blue Marlins can put up an incredible fight when hooked and it is no wonder why sport
fishermen consider landing a Blue Marlin a notch in the belt when they do.
They are native to the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans and migrate these as they
follow the seasonal currents.
Marine Biologists don't consider this fish endangered yet, but there is still concern
of them being overfished and is why most anglers participate in a "catch a release" program.
Blue Marlins tend to be solitary creatures, feasting on smaller fish near the surface
and diving deeper for squid during the day.
They are a powerful swimming engine that has exceeded 50 miles or 80 kilometers per hour.
5.
Mahi-Mahi Found in warm tropical climates, Mahi-Mahi
are also called dolphinfish which often confuses people to think they are a porpoise or dolphin.
Mahi-Mahi are not marine mammals and have no relation to the dolphin family whatsoever.
Males and females can easily be distinguished as the males have pronounced heads with an
obtrusive forehead, and the females have rounded heads.
They reach lengths of 4.5 feet or 1.4 meters and get up to 40 pounds or 18 kilograms.
Mahi-Mahi have a long dorsal fin running from their head to the lower back and a tall narrow
shaped body, which makes them ideal swimmers reaching speeds of 57.5 miles or 93 kilometers
per hour.
4.
Mako Shark These sharks are found all over the world,
including shallow waters close to shorelines and deep waters, regardless of whether it
is warm or cold waters.
Consuming on primarily tuna, herring and swordfish, but not limited to this diet, Mako sharks
aren't picky when it comes to food.
It isn't uncommon for this shark to be seen leaping 20 feet or 6 meters out of the water,
and although there is no known reason why they do this, it is speculated that they are
searching for food.
Using flexible scales on its body, the Mako Shark can pull off tight underwater turns
during high-speed pursuits that can reach 60 miles or 97 kilometers per hour.
Averaging 8 feet or 2.4 meters in length, these sharks can carry their weight well,
which can be up to 1,000 pounds or 454 kilograms. 3.
Swordfish Also called a Broadbill, they are a large
marine fish of tropical and temperate waters throughout the world.
They are an important commercial fish, with thousands of tons harvested annually, of which,
Japan accounts for 1/4 of the world catch.
They are caught with harpoons or by setting up lures on lines as they can slash their
way out of nets.
Swordfish can weight more than 1,000 pounds or 450 kilograms, but on average are about
200 pounds or 91 kilograms.
A "sword" on a Swordfish is about 1/3 of its body length and are speculated by scientists
to help break up schools of fish so it can attack them one at a time.
They may also use it as an aid in swimming as it breaks the flow of water, making it
easier for them to swim.
Swordfish can slice through the water at speeds of 60 miles or 97 kilometers per hour.
2.
Sailfish Related to other "billed" fish, such as Marlins
and Swordfish, Sailfish can travel up to 68 miles or 109 kilometers per hour.
Popular amongst sport fishermen for the challenge, they are also notoriously hard to study because
they migrate frequently and are found hundreds of miles from shore.
Unfortunately, overfishing has seen a decline in their numbers over the years, which is
relatively surprising since they have little value in commercial enterprises as their meat
is relatively tough.
Sailfish live in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, reaching an average of 6 feet or 1.8
meters in length.
1.
Black Marlin A highly rated game fish, anglers would love
to contend with this fish's size, power, and persistence, but be warned, it can travel
up to 80 miles 129 kilometers per hour.
It is easily identified, as it is the only marlin that has rigid pectoral fins that cannot
lie flat against its body without breaking the joints.
These fish can reach a length of 16 feet or 5 meters and weigh up to 1650 pounds or 750
kilograms.
Slight variations in color cause some Black Marlin to have a silvery haze, hence being
called the silver marlin in Hawaii, and white marlin
in Japan.