Thanks, kuhankeittäjäkuhankeittäjä wrote: ↑August 13th, 2018, 6:47 pm Hi Anne7
Thanks for the pictures of a bigger and smaller perch. The dorsal fin is open in both with its sharp needles clearly visible. The right lilac cover ( lat operculum) is also visible but not open. Its back most edge forms a sharp tip which easily penetrates the skin at human hand, when a perch catch strikes back to get free. Open right and left cover tips and dorsal fin spikes establish a tripod which strongly resists backward movement in a tight channel. Hence, if the perch succeeds in turning, it cannot be swallowed further. If not, it resists regurgitating.
Yes, I see the sharp tips on the gill covers (operculum).
Together with those dorsal fin spikes, it must be an efficient 'defense', in many situations.
But Karl and Kati are very experienced hunters*.
I suppose they know how to swallow a perch. The difficult part could be to turn the perch in their crop, in order to regurgitate it 'head first' again ? I don't know if (and how) they can do it.
*We have seen that Kati grabbed a living viper right behind the head, so it couldn't bite her.
Good night, everyone!
