Fashion A Fish Modified from “Fashion a Fish,” Project WILD Aquatic
Objectives Students will be able to: Describe the adaptations of fish to their environments Describe how adaptations can help fish survive in their habitats Interpret the importance of adaptation in animals Construct a fish with a given set of adaptations
Background Aquatic Animal adaptations have occurred over the course of several years Adaptations increase likelihood of survival Some have adapted to a point that they are vulnerable to slight changes
Mouth 1: Sucker Shaped Mouth Advantage: Feeds on very small plants and animals Examples: Sucker, Carp
Mouth 2: Elongated upper jaw Advantage: feeds on prey it looks down on Examples: Spoonbill, Sturgeon
Mouth 3: Elongated Lower Jaw Advantages: Feeds on prey it sees above Examples: Barracuda, snook
Mouth 4: Duckbill Jaws Advantages: Grasps prey Examples: Muskellunge, Pike
Mouth 5: Extremely Large Jaws Advantages: Surrounds Prey Examples: Bass, Grouper
Body Shape 1: Torpedo Shape Advantages: Fast Moving Examples: Trout, Salmon, Tuna
Body Shape 2: Flat Bellied Advantages: Bottom Feeder Examples: Catfish, Sucker
Body Shape 3: Vertical Disk Advantages: Feeds above or below Examples: Butterfish, Bluegill
Body Shape 4: Horizontal Disk Advantages: Bottom Dweller Examples: Flounder, Halibut
Body Shape 5: Hump Backed Advantages: Stable in fast-moving water Examples: Sockeye, Salmon, Chub, Razorback
Coloration 1: Light-Colored Belly Advantages: Predators have difficulty seeing it from below Examples: Most minnows, Perch, Tuna, Mackerel
Coloration 2: Dark Upper Side Advantages: Predators have difficulty seeing it from above Examples: Bluegill, Crappie, Barracuda, Flounder
Coloration 3: Vertical Stripes Advantages: Can hide in vegetation Examples: Muskellunge, Pickerel, Bluegill
Coloration 4: Horizontal Stripes Advantages: Can hide in vegetation Examples: Yellow and White Bass, Snook
Coloration 5: Mottled Coloration Advantages: Can hide in rocks and on bottom Examples: Trout, Grouper, Rock Bass, Hogsucker
Reproduction 1: Eggs deposited in bottom Advantages: Hidden from Predators Examples: Trout, Salmon, most minnows
Reproduction 2: Eggs deposited in nests Advantages: Protected by adults Examples: Bass, Stickleback
Reproduction 3: Floating Eggs Advantages: Dispersed in high numbers Examples: Striped Bass
Reproduction 4: Eggs attached to vegetation Advantages: Stable until hatching Examples: Perch, Northern Pike, Carp
Reproduction 5: Live Bearers Advantages: High Survival Rate Examples: Guppies