A huge fish with a long narrow mouth, studded with sharp, needle-like teeth, is not a sight for the faint of heart. But this is exactly what is supposed to look like a predatory fish, leading its history from the Mesozoic era, which ended about 66 million years ago.
The planets that were once widespread for the most part, today armored pikes (lat. Lepisosteidae), or shellfish, have only seven species and live in the eastern part of North and Central America and in Cuba. For more than one hundred million years of their existence, they have managed to preserve most of their original qualities.

The size of shell pike varies from 60 cm, as in the case of the spotted shell pike (lat. Lepisosteus oculatus) and to the officially confirmed 2.5 meters, to which grows the largest of the shell, or alligator pike (lat. Atractosteus spatula). One of these giant specimens was caught in 1910 in Lake Moon, Mississippi.
Crustacean pikes are hardy creatures that can survive in the most seemingly unsuitable living conditions. In addition to calm fresh rivers, they often settle in silted ponds and lakes, where there is almost no oxygen. But it would be surprising if such ancient fish could not adapt:  shell pikes replenish the supply of oxygen, emerging to the surface and storing air in the swim bladder, which also plays the role of the lungs.
Most of all shell fighters appreciate a calm atmosphere and dense thickets of aquatic plants. They do not like to spend energy and make sharp movements only when it comes time to attack the victim.
During the hunt, sluggish and lazy armored pikes are transformed, demonstrating the wonders of speed and agility. But even here, they save power by always swallowing the whole victim. Therefore, despite the size and sharp teeth, armored pikes are not dangerous for a person, as fussing and tearing someone apart is not in their style.
The narrow long jaws of armored pikes are studded with a series of sharp teeth, and in a giant alligator pike there are two such rows. They predators cruelly grind crabs, turtles, waterfowl and small mammals. Part of the digestive tract of these voracious hunters is twisted in a spiral - it is this form that allows armor to extract the maximum amount of nutrients from the prey.
The whole body of armored pike is covered with strong, like teeth, voluminous scales consisting of three layers. The inner layer is bone, the middle one is dentin, and the upper one is something like tooth enamel. All this design reliably protects its owners from any predators, creating a truly impenetrable shell.
Not left without protection and eggs that lay females armored pike. Tens of thousands of sticky poisonous eggs hiding in algae, and after a few days turn into larvae that feed on egg yolk. The larvae, equipped with suckers, hang on the leaves and stalks of aquatic plants and within two weeks become completely independent fry. Crab pikes fully mature in two to three years, and their lifespan can reach thirty years.