Download Name That Fish

Name That Fish
Outcome:
6-1-04: Identify living things using an existing classification key, and explain the rationale
used.
Materials:
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writing utensil
Teacher Instructions:
1. Make a class set of pages 2-4.
2. Instruct students to clear their desks of everything except a pen or pencil.
3. Hand out pages 2-4. Page 2 contains pictures of Manitoba fish species labeled from A - L.
Students will use the Key to Manitoba Fish Species on page 3 to identify these fish and
write down the correct names in the spaces provided on page 4.
4. Students will also provide rationales for their choices in the spaces provided on page 4.
For example, next to “Sturgeon” they should write “Tail fin; upper lobe larger” as the Key
indicates for sturgeon. They should notice that in the picture of the sturgeon, it does in
fact have a tail fin with a larger upper lobe rather than symmetrical lobes. An answer key
is provided on page 5.
Teacher Background Information:
Using the Key to Manitoba Fish Species
If you observe the Key to Manitoba Fish Species you will notice that the lake sturgeon is the
only fish species with a heterocercal tail (the upper lobe larger than the lower lobe - like a
shark’s tail). This separates it from all other Manitoba fish species.
The next main branches of the fish “family tree” are based on whether a species has an
adipose fin or not. Again, this is an obvious visual clue for classifying fish. Barbels and
spines are then used to subdivide branches, then teeth or no teeth, scales or no scales, etc.
Notice that the further you are along the branching process, the more specific the clues
must be to determine the species. For example, it is not just whether the fish has spines, it is
where those spines are located. The colour of a fish is usually the last thing used to identify a
species. Colours can be misleading because they can change slightly depending on the
habitat the fish is found in, what they are eating, the time of year (e.g. spawning/breeding
colours are usually brighter than colours at other times of the year), etc. For this reason,
only obvious colouration features that are fairly reliable (e.g. white fin edges, spots, stripes)
are used in the key.
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Name That Fish
A
Manitoba Fish
B
Manitoba Fish
E
Manitoba Fish
Manitoba Fish
F
D
Manitoba Fish
G
Manitoba Fish
I
Manitoba Fish
C
Manitoba Fish
J
H
Manitoba Fish
K
Manitoba Fish
Manitoba Fish
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L
Manitoba Fish
Key to Manitoba Fish Species
Light spots on
dark body
Lake Trout
Tail deeply forked
Brook Trout
Pink, yellow or
white spots on side
Tail square or
slightly notched
Body light or
silver colour
Muskellunge
Front of dorsal fin
ahead of anal fin
Arctic Char
Pale red spots and
slightly notched tail
Teeth
Light body and spots
if present are dark
Red spots with blue
circles on sides
White edge on lower fins
Northern Pike
Dorsal fin near tail
Teeth
Splake
Dorsal fin behind
front of anal fin
Kokanee
Goldeye
Dorsal fin centered
Single stiff spine on
dorsal and anal fin
Rainbow Trout
Pink flash on side
and small black spots
No white edge on fins
Mooneye
Carp
No teeth
Sucker
Body dark colour
Brown Trout
Large dark spots on
yellow-brown background
No spines on fins
Scales
No scales
Large dorsal fin
No teeth
Sturgeon
Burbot
Arctic Grayling
Mouth above
end of snout
Tullibee
Mouth below
end of snout
Whitefish
No Barbels
Strong sharp teeth
Adipose fin long and
thin an d connected
to tail fin
Tail fin. Upper
lobe larger
S
T
A
R
T
Stonecat
Spiny dorsal fin solid
light colour, dark
spot at rear base
Walleye
No spines in anal fin
Tail fin deeply forked
Barbels
Sauger
Spiny dorsal fin a
series of black spots
Normal dorsal fin
Teeth not as
pronounced and
dark vertical bars
Channel Catfish
Perch
White Bass
Adipose fin small
and distinctive
Bullhead
Dark lateral lines
Tail fin square
Adipose fin
Dorsal fins separate and
body light in colour
Tail fin. Even
or symmetrical
Soft dorsal fin
Freshwater Drum
No lines
Smallmouth Bass
No adipose fin
Mouth extends to eye
Spines in anal fin
Notch in dorsal fin
Spiny dorsal fin
Mouth extends past eye
Dorsal fins connected and
body dark in colour
Eye red
Largemouth Bass
Rock Bass
Continuous dorsal fin
Black Crappie
Eye yellow
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Name That Fish
Name of Fish
Rationale
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
Student Name:
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Name That Fish
Name of Fish
Rationale
A
Northern Pike
symmetrical tail, no adipose fin, soft dorsal fin, scales,
dorsal fin near tail, light spots dark body
B
Brook Trout
symmetrical tail, adipose fin, no barbels, teeth, white edge
on fins, square tail, red spots with blue circles on side
C
Bullhead
symmetrical tail, adipose fin, barbels, tail fin square
D
Goldeye
symmetrical tail, no adipose fin, soft dorsal fin, scales,
dorsal fin in centre, teeth, dorsal fin behind front of anal
fin
Perch
symmetrical tail, no adipose fin, spiny dorsal fin, no
spines in anal fin, teeth not as noticeable and dark vertical
bars
F
Rock Bass
symmetrical tail, no adipose fin, spiny dorsal fin, spines in
anal fin, dorsal fins connected, continuous dorsal fin,
eyes red
G
Sturgeon
tail fin, upper lobe larger
H
Rainbow Trout
symmetrical tail, adipose fin, no barbels, teeth, no white
edge on fins, body dark, pink flash and small black spots
I
Carp
symmetrical tail, no adipose fin, soft dorsal fin, scales,
dorsal fin in centre, no teeth, single stiff spine on dorsal
and anal fin
J
Walleye
symmetrical tail, no adipose fin, spiny dorsal fin, no
spines in anal fin, strong sharp teeth, dark spot at base of
dorsal fin
K
Sucker
symmetrical tail, no adipose fin, soft dorsal fin, scales,
dorsal fin in centre, no teeth, no spines on fins
L
Catfish
symmetrical tail, adipose fin, barbels, tail fin deeply forked
E
Teacher Answer Key
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