Stats

Lifespan: 10-25 yrs
Size: Large
Diet: Carnivore
Activity: Diurnal
Social: Solitary
Biome: Freshwater wetland
Range: Northern Hemisphere
Movement: Swimming
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Camouflage
Status: Uncommon

About

The Northern Pike is a solitary ambush predator lurking in weedy shallows across the Northern Hemisphere, capable of striking prey nearly half its own body length. Its distinctive duck-bill snout is lined with hundreds of sharp, backward-pointing teeth that make escape nearly impossible once prey is seized.

Life cycle

1.
hatchling fry
A tiny fry hatches with a yolk sac and begins free-swimming once the sac is absorbed.
2.
juvenile
A juvenile takes on adult body shape and feeds on small prey, often in nursery waters.
3.
adult
Fully grown at adult size and coloration.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Esocidae
Genus: Esox
Species: Esox lucius