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Fish
of the Animal Kingdom
Living on Planet Earth
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Fish
 Fish
are part of the Animal Kingdom. The
other animal classes include: mammals,
birds, amphibians, reptiles and
invertebrates.
Fish
 All
members of the kingdom of animals
have one thing in common—they have a
mouth or similar structure used to ingest
food. If not, then they absorb their food
and they belong to another kingdom of
living creatures.
Fish
 Have
mouths to ingest food
 Have vertebrae to support their bodies
 Are cold-blooded
 Breathe with gills
 Have skin with scales or plates
Fish
 All
fish have vertebrae or cartilage inside
that give them shape and help them to
turn. Some fish have bones and cartilage,
while others have only cartilage.
 Cartilage feels like rubber. It’s softer and
more flexible than bones because it
doesn’t have calcium in it.
Fish
 Grab
your nose or ear and move it from
side to side. It is made of flexible cartilage.
 Bony fish have vertebrae that are very
flexible. Bony fish have bones and cartilage
just as we do.
Fish
 Bony
fish have a swim bladder that acts
like a life vest. It is filled with air and other
gasses. The fish doesn’t have to work so
hard to stay at a water depth where they
find food and a safe place to rest.
 There are over 24,000 species of bony fish.
Fish
 There
are more than 600 species of fish with
skeletons made of cartilage. They are
called cartilaginous fish.
 You are probably familiar with the sharks,
skates and rays that belong to this class of
fish. These fish can quickly change direction
to hunt for slower moving fish.
Fish
 Cartilaginous
fish have a fatty liver that
helps with buoyancy. They must remain in
motion, even when sleeping, or they will
sink to the bottom.
 These sharks, skates, rays and ratfish are
able to quickly search high and low for
food because they don’t have a swim
bladder.
Fish
 Fish
rely on the
warmth of the sun
and their surroundings
to control their body
temperature.
 This is called coldbloodedness.
Fish
 Because
fish are cold-blooded they
require that the water in which they swim
stays within a certain temperature range
so that they can be active and find food.
Fish
 Fish
breathe water into gills. The gills move
oxygen through the body. Each
heartbeat pushes blood back to the gills.
 A fish’s skeleton, organs and muscles
depend upon good oxygen circulation
from the gills and heart.
Fish
 Some
can breathe air at the surface of the
water using their gills. Some have gills and
lungs. Others have gills and can absorb
oxygen through their skin like an amphibian.
 All are considered fish because they have gills
to breathe and fins to propel them through
the water.
Fish
 Bony
fish skin has scales or plates that
protect the animal from injury and infection.
 Mucous cells in the skin produce a slippery
substance to reduce water friction so that
the fish can swim more easily.
Fish
 Fish
scales allow light to pass through. The
pretty colors we see are created by
pigment found deep in the skin.
Fish
 Sharks,
skates and rays have rough skin
that feels like sandpaper and fins that are
stiff.
 All fish have fins that help to propel them
through the water or to stay in one place.
Fish
 Bottom
feeders are slower moving.
 Bullet shaped fish can move faster and
are found in open water.
 Others are flat or rounded and move
more slowly.
Fish
 What
is a fish’s favorite food? Look at its
mouth for clues.
 If it opens wide they catch plankton, bugs
or other fish.
 If their lips point upward they find food on
the surface of the water.
 If their lips point downward they feed at
the bottom of the water.
Fish
 Many
fish have natural defenses that
keep them safe.
 They often use their instincts and habits to
outsmart their predators.
Fish
Camouflage



Animals that camouflage themselves pretend to
be something that they are not.
Some fish have deceptive markings that
confuse predators. Others hide from predators
by blending in to the scenery.
Some use
camouflage to
avoid being seen
by their prey.
Fish
Mimicry
 Some
animals have body shapes that
look like another animal. One of these fish
is dangerous. A predator knows that it
could be hurt by one or the other fish and
will leave both of them alone.
 A fish might mimic another animal's
behavior, making its prey feel safe.
Unfortunately, the unsuspecting fish will
become dinner for the sly predator.
Fish
Torpor
 Some
fish will go into a state
of torpor, much like
hibernation, when their
water gets too cold or dries
up.
 Lung fish and some eels will
bury themselves in mud or
sand until the rain or tide
provides more water.
Fish
Electroreception
 Cartilaginous
fish have a special sensory
organ to perceive electric fields.
 Using this special sense sharks and their
kind can detect muscular contractions of
struggling prey and even the earth's
magnetic field.
Fish
Electrocution


Some fish are able to give a very strong
electric shock to stun or kill another animal.
The Atlantic Torpedo ray will trap its prey in its
fins and give it a shock. The electric eel is so
powerful it can knock a person over.
Fish
Chemical Release


Some fish use poison to defend themselves or to
stun their prey.
Many rays have poisonous barbs on their tail. A
lion fish will defend itself with its sharp spines by
injecting a paralyzing poison into the predator.
Fish
Bioluminescence
 Some
fish have special organs
containing light generating bacteria
that produce a glowing light. This
light helps fish communicate with
each other.
 In some instances predatory fish,
such as Megamouth sharks, use it to
attract prey into their glowing
mouths.
Fish
Hide and Bury
 Many
fish will stay in a small area
that they know well so that they
can hide from a predator in
familiar rocks, corals and grasses.
 Some fish, like the many species of
gobies, are able to quickly bury
themselves in the sand when they
are frightened.
Fish
Senses
 Fish
have very keen senses that differ for
each species and living environment.
 They can sense light, smell and taste
chemicals, hear and feel vibrations and
sense electricity.
Fish
Senses
 Fish
have internal ears that
allow them to respond to
sound.
 Many also have hair-like
sensors along their sides that
help them feel sound and
sense the distance of other
fish nearby.
Fish
Senses
 Mudfish
live in shallow water. They have
eyes on the top of their heads to spot food
and danger.
 Look for clues that will help you understand
where the fish might live, what it might eat
and how it might protect itself.
Fish
 There
are many interesting characteristics
found among all the animal species. It’s
fun to learn what they have in common
and what makes them different.
Fish
 We
hope you enjoyed learning about the
Fish of the Animal Kingdom.
Fish
Orders
Cartilaginous Fish
 Sharks
 Skates,
Rays and Ratfish
Bony Fish
 Lungfish,
Bichirs and Bony Tongues
 Herring and Their Relatives
 Salmon and Their Relatives
Fish
Orders
 Bristle
Mouths and Hatchet Fish
 Eels
 Carp
and Their Relatives
 Characins and Their Relatives
 Catfish and Electric Eels
 Toad Fish and Anglerfish
Fish
Orders
 Codfish
and Their Relatives
 Lionfish, Dories and Oarfish
 Flying Fish, Grunions and Seahorses
 Perch and Their Relatives
 Triggerfish
 Flatfish
Fish
of the Animal Kingdom
Images Courtesy of:
Microsoft Clipart: www.office.com
Coral Reef Alliance: www.coral.org
Contributions from abcteach.com staff members,
and others as identified.
Copyright 2010 abcteach.com
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Fish
of the Animal Kingdom
Living on Planet Earth