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Few would believe that the most dangerous fish on the planet, the shark, can have friends or truly friendly relationships. One of the underwater creatures, known as the pilot shark, never runs away from this formidable predator. On the contrary, it accompanies this bloodthirsty creature almost everywhere and always.
What does a bloodthirsty individual's girlfriend look like?
Many might assume this is some kind of special or poisonous fish, but that's far from the case. The pilot fish got its interesting name because it can accompany not only bloodthirsty sharks, but also turtles, rays, and virtually any other aquatic creatures.
There were cases where these specimens accompanied passing ships for long periods. But near the cold seas off Britain, the pilots returned to their native waters and sailed again, accompanying other representatives of the fauna.
The main features and characteristics of the pilot are as follows:
· This species belongs to a group of predators familiar to many anglers. It is a relative of the perch, a member of the horse mackerel family.
· In appearance, the fish differs from our striped friend, but the pilot fish and perch definitely share similarities. This distant relative also has stripes on its sides.
· They are large predators and can grow up to 30-50 cm.
The pilot whale has a dark coloration, ranging from black to dark blue. Its snout is silvery, and its belly is light.
This is what a relative of pike perch, bream, and perch looks like.
How do predators interact with sharks?
Pilot fish and sharks are considered friends because the latter fish cares for its bloodthirsty companion. Pilot fish clean their gills, removing various parasites. The shark attacks various vertebrates, and the particles remaining in the gills become food for the perch relative.
Scientists have not yet been able to explain this symbiosis between such a formidable and bloodthirsty individual and a small fish. They only confirm the existence of interactions between these predators, describing their friendship with various terms, such as mutualism and commensalism, which express a partnership.
Some interesting facts about the pilot
Fishermen tell different stories about the interactions between pilot sharks and toothy predators. Sometimes they swim, surrounding the shark on all sides, with one individual leading the way, as if indicating the best, safest route.
It's worth noting that the fish sense each other's movements and perform everything almost in sync. The pilot fish surrounding her behave in exactly the same way as the dangerous companion.
Afterword
This article doesn't cover trophy fishing trips on the Putorana Plateau, but we hope it will be of interest to anglers and general readers. Such relatives are found in the beloved perch. Fearless, intelligent, and adept at navigating the deep waters of oceans and seas.
If you consider perch, pike-perch, and zander, you'll see they also possess a fearless streak. They eagerly attack lures, wobblers, and spoons, unconcerned about getting hooked. And then, they become a tasty and healthy addition to any angler's table.
