Page 26 - (DK) Danger! Open with Extreme Caution!
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killer whales
The largest type of dolphin,
killer whales earn their nickname,
“wolves of the sea,” by ganging up
in pods to hunt. They sneak up on
schools of fish and marine mammals,
communicating with one another with
almost silent calls that are undetectable
to their victims. Killer whales attack
from all sides to make a kill, then they
share the catch of the day.
Barracuda
Wolves of the sea, meet the “tigers
of the ocean.” Barracuda are
natural-born killers equipped with
a mouthful of fanglike teeth and
huge appetites. When these fierce
fish hunt in a group, they herd their
prey together and then ram into
their victims with a sudden burst
of speed, snapping off chunks of
fish flesh.
ARMY ANTS
These ants live in huge colonies
of up to 700,000 individuals. When
they hunt, a regiment of up to
200,000 ants overwhelm their
victims, including other ants or
large arthropods, in an attack
called a swarm raid. They chop up
the flesh of their dead prey with
machete-sharp jaws. It’s no picnic.
SWARM!
Many animals prefer prowling for their victims in groups.
A pack of hunters can sometimes do a better job of bringing
down prey than a single animal, especially if their target
is a large one. A pack is also likely to confuse the victim.
Other animals hunt in swarms or gangs because they live
in extended families and do most things together.
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(c) 2011 Dorling Kindersley. All Rights Reserved.

