Someone once shared a joke with me. It went something like this.
Why can't you breed an eagle with an eel?
Because it's eeleagle (illegal)
Not deviating from the post lets first know what an Apex predator is.
An apex predator, also known as an alpha predator or top predator, is a predator at the top of a food chain, with no natural predators.
Here we at "DIVE-INTO-5" present you some of the top predator that are known for their hunting skills in the wild.
#1 Lion
| Weight (Male) | 170-230 kg (Adult) |
| Length (Male) | 184–208 cm (72–82 in) (Adult) |
| Height standing | 180-210 cm |
| Binomial name | Panthera leo |
| Lifespan | 10-14 years |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Class | Mammalia |
The lion is one of Africa's apex land predators.
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The lion is a species in the family Felidae; it is a muscular, deep-chested cat with a short, rounded head, a reduced neck and round ears, and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail.
It is sexually dimorphic; adult male lions have a prominent mane, which is the most recognizable feature of the species. With a typical head-to-body length of 184–208 cm (72–82 in) they are larger than females at 160–184 cm (63–72 in).
It is a social species, forming groups called prides. A lion pride consists of a few adult males, related females and cubs.
Groups of female lions usually hunt together, preying mostly on large ungulates.
The lion is an apex and keystone predator, although some lions scavenge when opportunities occur, and have been known to hunt humans, although the species typically does not.
#2 Saltwater crocodile
| Weight (Male) | 400 – 1,000 kg (Adult) |
| Length (Male) | 4.3 – 5.2 m (Adult) |
| Binomial name | Crocodylus porosus |
| Lifespan | 70 years (Adult) |
| Order | Crocodilia |
| Class | Reptilia |
The saltwater crocodile is a crocodilian native to saltwater habitats and brackish wetlands from India's east coast across Southeast Asia and the Sundaic region to northern Australia and Micronesia.
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It has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 1996.The beast was hunted for its skin throughout its range up to the 1970s, and is threatened by illegal killing and habitat loss.
This beast is regarded as dangerous for people who share the same environment.
The saltwater crocodile is the largest living reptile and the dominant predator throughout its range.
#3 The great white shark
| Weight (Female) | 1,905 – 2,268 kg |
| Length (Female) | 610 cm (20 ft) |
| Binomial name | Carcharodon carcharias |
| Lifespan | 70 years |
| Order | Lamniformes |
| Class | Chondrichthyes |
The great white shark was originally considered the apex predator of the ocean; however, the killer whale has proved to be a predator of the shark.
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The great white shark, also known as the great white, white shark or "white pointer", is a species of large mackerel shark which can be found in the coastal surface waters of all the major oceans.
The great white shark is notable for its size, with larger female individuals growing to 6.1 m (20 ft.) in length and 1,905–2,268 kg (4,200–5,000 lb.) in weight at maturity.
However, most are smaller; males measure 3.4 to 4.0 m (11 to 13 ft.), and female measure 4.6 to 4.9 m (15 to 16 ft.) on average.
According to a 2014 study, the lifespan of great white sharks is estimated to be as long as 70 years or more, well above previous estimates, making it one of the longest lived cartilaginous fish currently known.
According to the same study, male great white sharks take 26 years to reach sexual maturity, while the females take 33 years to be ready to produce offspring.
Great white sharks can swim at speeds of over 56 km/h (35 mph), and can swim to depths of 1,200 m (3,900 ft.).
#4 The gray wolf
| Weight (Male) | 40kg |
| Length | 105-160 cm |
| Binomial name | Canis lupus |
| Lifespan | 6-8 years |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Class | Mammalia |
The gray wolf is both an apex predator and a keystone species (A keystone species is a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its natural environment relative to its abundance.), affecting its prey's behavior and the wider ecosystem.
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The wolf, also known as the gray wolf or grey wolf, is a large canine native to Eurasia and North America. It is the largest extant member of Canidae, with males averaging 40 kg (88 lb.) and females 37 kg (82 lb).
On average, wolves measure 105–160 cm (41–63 in) in length and 80–85 cm (31–33 in) at shoulder height.
The wolf is also distinguished from other Canis species by its less pointed features, particularly the ears and muzzle.
The wolf is nonetheless closely related enough to smaller Canis species, such as the coyote and golden jackal, to produce fertile hybrids with them.
The winter fur of a wolf is long and bushy and predominantly mottled gray, although nearly pure white, red and brown to black colors also occur. Up to 38 subspecies of wolf have been recognized including the domestic dog.
#5 The great skua
| Weight | 1.3 - 1.5 kg |
| Length | 50-58 cm |
| Wingspan | 125–140 cm |
| Binomial name | Stercorarius skua |
| Lifespan | 15 years |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Class | Aves |
The great skua is an aerial apex predator, both preying on other seabirds and bullying them for their catches.
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The great skua is an aggressive pirate of the seas, deliberately harassing birds as large as gannets to steal a free meal. It also readily kills and eats smaller birds such as puffins.
The great skua is a large seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae.
The English name and species name "skua" is believed to originate from the Faroese skúvur or skúgvur and is the only known bird name to originate from the Faroes that has come into regular use elsewhere.
The genus name Stercorarius is Latin and means "of dung"; the food disgorged by other birds when pursued by skuas was once thought to be excrement.
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