Ambush predator

An ambush predator captures prey by waiting concealed before launching a sudden attack. Its success depends on surprise, concealment, and a rapid strike.

Crypsis: Adaptations that make an organism difficult to detect in its environment. Camouflage and other forms of concealment let predators approach or await prey unnoticed.
Anglerfish: A group of marine fishes whose members include species with a fleshy lure near the mouth. Some use a lure to draw prey within striking distance in dark water.
Pursuit predation: A hunting strategy in which a predator actively chases prey before capture. Unlike ambush predators, pursuit predators rely on sustained movement to catch prey.
Foraging theory: A framework for explaining how animals make decisions about finding and consuming food. It helps analyze the costs and benefits of waiting for prey rather than searching.
Sit-and-wait foraging: A foraging strategy in which an animal remains stationary until prey comes within reach. It describes the broader feeding strategy behind many ambush attacks.
Crocodile: A large semiaquatic reptile in the family Crocodylidae. Crocodiles can remain nearly submerged before lunging at animals near the water's edge.
Active foraging: A foraging strategy in which an animal moves through its environment to find food. It contrasts with remaining concealed and waiting for prey to approach.
Optimal foraging theory: A theory predicting that natural selection favors foraging choices that maximize net energetic gain. Ambush tactics trade search costs against the chance and payoff of a successful strike.
Predator-prey interaction: An ecological interaction in which one organism kills and consumes another. Ambush is one way predators capture prey within this broader interaction.
Praying mantis: A predatory insect with grasping forelegs adapted to seize prey. Its still posture and rapid foreleg strike exemplify close-range ambush.

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