Pike

Name: Pike

Scientific name: Esox lucius

Category: Fish

Nature Stars: 50

What are nature stars?

About:

A medium to large fish, growing up to 1 metre long. A long, slender fish, with a narrow tappered head with large eyes and a large mouth with many large teeth. Found in lakes, slow-flowing rivers and canals, with plenty of weeds for it to hide in. The pike is a predatory hunter, hiding amongst the vegetation before bursting out to catch its prey. It eats fish, frogs, water voles and ducklings. Young pike are called 'Jack' and will eat small fish and invertebrates.

Find out more about the pike on its Beast of the Month page.

How to identify: Easily recognised by the elongated body, greenish with darker blotches and stripes, with a long wedge-shaped head, large eyes and the big mouth full of teeth.

Where: Found throughout the country.

Natural Superpowers

• Agility: 70
• Rarity: 50
• Cute factor: 10
• Traveller: 30

Fantastic fact: A pike can eat a prey item up to half its own body weight, even taking moorhen or young ducks.

Photograph credit: Michel Roggo/naturepl