1. Fashion A Fish Modified from “Fashion a Fish,” Project WILD Aquatic

2. 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

3. 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

4. Mouth 1: Sucker Shaped Mouth
Advantage: Feeds on very small plants and animals
Examples: Sucker, Carp

5. Mouth 2: Elongated upper jaw Advantage: feeds on prey it looks down on
Examples: Spoonbill, Sturgeon

6. Mouth 3: Elongated Lower Jaw Advantages: Feeds on prey it sees above
Examples: Barracuda, snook

7. Mouth 4: Duckbill Jaws Advantages: Grasps prey
Examples: Muskellunge, Pike

8. Mouth 5: Extremely Large Jaws Advantages: Surrounds Prey
Examples: Bass, Grouper

9. Body Shape 1: Torpedo Shape Advantages: Fast Moving
Examples: Trout, Salmon, Tuna

10. Body Shape 2: Flat Bellied Advantages: Bottom Feeder
Examples: Catfish, Sucker

11. Body Shape 3: Vertical Disk Advantages: Feeds above or below
Examples: Butterfish, Bluegill

12. Body Shape 4: Horizontal Disk Advantages: Bottom Dweller
Examples: Flounder, Halibut

13. Body Shape 5: Hump Backed Advantages: Stable in fast-moving water
Examples: Sockeye, Salmon, Chub, Razorback

14. Coloration 1: Light-Colored Belly
Advantages: Predators have difficulty seeing it from below
Examples: Most minnows, Perch, Tuna, Mackerel

15. Coloration 2: Dark Upper Side
Advantages: Predators have difficulty seeing it from above
Examples: Bluegill, Crappie, Barracuda, Flounder

16. Coloration 3: Vertical Stripes Advantages: Can hide in vegetation
Examples: Muskellunge, Pickerel, Bluegill

17. Coloration 4: Horizontal Stripes Advantages: Can hide in vegetation
Examples: Yellow and White Bass, Snook

18. Coloration 5: Mottled Coloration
Advantages: Can hide in rocks and on bottom
Examples: Trout, Grouper, Rock Bass, Hogsucker

19. Reproduction 1: Eggs deposited in bottom
Advantages: Hidden from Predators
Examples: Trout, Salmon, most minnows

20. Reproduction 2: Eggs deposited in nests
Advantages: Protected by adults
Examples: Bass, Stickleback

21. Reproduction 3: Floating Eggs Advantages: Dispersed in high numbers
Examples: Striped Bass

22. Reproduction 4: Eggs attached to vegetation
Advantages: Stable until hatching
Examples: Perch, Northern Pike, Carp

23. Reproduction 5: Live Bearers Advantages: High Survival Rate
Examples: Guppies