Fish morphology activity worksheet
Name ___________________________ Date _________ Period 1 2 3 4 5 6
Fish Morphology Background: Morphology looks at the form and structures of an organism and how they work. There is a saying in biology that form follows function. Body parts are shaped the way they are to serve a certain purpose. By studying the parts of a fish we can understand how the shape, form and structure of a fish’s parts have evolved to fit its lifestyle and behavior. Humans have learned how to better design machines such as submarines, torpedoes, airplanes and automobiles this way. Let’s review the basic anatomy of all bony fish (class Osteichthyes). Label the diagram below with the following structures: eye pelvic fin anal fin pectoral fin lateral line first dorsal fin operculum mouth nostril second dorsal fin caudal fin Body shape is a good indicator of how a fish moves and where it lives. Cross-section Body shape A
Type
fusiform
B
compressed
C
depressed
D
eel-like (anguilliform)
E
thread-like (filiform)
F
ribbon-like (taeniform)
G
arrow-like (sagittiform)
H
Combination of shapes (globiform)
Example
Fish
Characteristics
Tuna, Salmon, Trout
Fast swimmer, ultra-streamlined, open water fishes
Angelfish, Filefish
Uses short bursts of speed, makes quick turns
Skates, Rays Flounder, Angel Shark
Lives on or near the bottom; “flies” through the water
American Eel
Slithers through the water like a snake, lack pelvic fins, Long, thin body, moves like a wavy ribbon Small, elongate, dorsal fin has spines
Snipe Eel
Pricklebacks, Gunnels Pikes, Gars, Needlefish Lumpsuckers, Frogfish, Sea Horse
Arrow-like body, elongated beak, surface dwellers Slow moving, uses various fins for movement
Name ___________________________ Date _________ Period 1 2 3 4 5 6 The shape of a fish's tail indicates how the fish moves and lives in the water. Caudal fin shape
Example
Function
Rounded
Large amount of surface area allows for effective acceleration and best for maneuvering, but creates the most drag causing fish to tire easily
Truncate
Effective acceleration and maneuvering. Not as much drag as rounded shape.
Emarginate Forked Lunate
Effective acceleration and maneuvering. Not as much drag as rounded or truncate shape. Good acceleration and maneuvering. Less surface area means less drag. Rigid fin with less surface area means less drag and great acceleration, but decreased maneuvering.
Study the charts of different fish body shapes and tail shapes. Answer the following questions selecting fish from the pictures to the right. Tell what body or tail shape each fish has that causes you to select each answer. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Which of these fish swims the fastest in open water? Which fish can make sharp turns? Which fish can not make sharp turns? A. Blue marlin Which fish is a great sprinter but not fit for a long distance marathon? Which fish swims like a flying bird? Which fish slithers through the water like a snake? Which fish lives on the sea floor? B. Mummichog What part of the fish propels it through the water?
9. Which fins give the fish stability and keep it from rolling over? 10. Which fins are used as the fish’s ‘brakes’? 11. Which fins help the fish move backwards and up and down in the water?
C. Broad flounder
12. Which fin helps the fish steer? 13. Which part of the fish protects the gills? 14. Why is it that fish swimming together in a school never run into each other? 15. Name three of the several ways fishes have adapted certain body parts to survive in their marine environment. 16. Design your own fish, choosing a body shape and parts that serve certain functions. Describe how it moves, what sort of environment it lives in, what it eats, what it eats, and how its morphology helps it do those things. Draw your fish to illustrate it design.
D. Green moray eel
Fish Morphology Background: Morphology looks at the form and structures of an organism and how they work. There is a saying in biology that form follows function. Body parts are shaped the way they are to serve a certain purpose. By studying the parts of a fish we can understand how the shape, form and structure of a fish’s parts have evolved to fit its lifestyle and behavior. Humans have learned how to better design machines such as submarines, torpedoes, airplanes and automobiles this way. Let’s review the basic anatomy of all bony fish (class Osteichthyes). Label the diagram below with the following structures: eye pelvic fin anal fin pectoral fin lateral line first dorsal fin operculum mouth nostril second dorsal fin caudal fin Body shape is a good indicator of how a fish moves and where it lives. Cross-section Body shape A
Type
fusiform
B
compressed
C
depressed
D
eel-like (anguilliform)
E
thread-like (filiform)
F
ribbon-like (taeniform)
G
arrow-like (sagittiform)
H
Combination of shapes (globiform)
Example
Fish
Characteristics
Tuna, Salmon, Trout
Fast swimmer, ultra-streamlined, open water fishes
Angelfish, Filefish
Uses short bursts of speed, makes quick turns
Skates, Rays Flounder, Angel Shark
Lives on or near the bottom; “flies” through the water
American Eel
Slithers through the water like a snake, lack pelvic fins, Long, thin body, moves like a wavy ribbon Small, elongate, dorsal fin has spines
Snipe Eel
Pricklebacks, Gunnels Pikes, Gars, Needlefish Lumpsuckers, Frogfish, Sea Horse
Arrow-like body, elongated beak, surface dwellers Slow moving, uses various fins for movement
Name ___________________________ Date _________ Period 1 2 3 4 5 6 The shape of a fish's tail indicates how the fish moves and lives in the water. Caudal fin shape
Example
Function
Rounded
Large amount of surface area allows for effective acceleration and best for maneuvering, but creates the most drag causing fish to tire easily
Truncate
Effective acceleration and maneuvering. Not as much drag as rounded shape.
Emarginate Forked Lunate
Effective acceleration and maneuvering. Not as much drag as rounded or truncate shape. Good acceleration and maneuvering. Less surface area means less drag. Rigid fin with less surface area means less drag and great acceleration, but decreased maneuvering.
Study the charts of different fish body shapes and tail shapes. Answer the following questions selecting fish from the pictures to the right. Tell what body or tail shape each fish has that causes you to select each answer. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Which of these fish swims the fastest in open water? Which fish can make sharp turns? Which fish can not make sharp turns? A. Blue marlin Which fish is a great sprinter but not fit for a long distance marathon? Which fish swims like a flying bird? Which fish slithers through the water like a snake? Which fish lives on the sea floor? B. Mummichog What part of the fish propels it through the water?
9. Which fins give the fish stability and keep it from rolling over? 10. Which fins are used as the fish’s ‘brakes’? 11. Which fins help the fish move backwards and up and down in the water?
C. Broad flounder
12. Which fin helps the fish steer? 13. Which part of the fish protects the gills? 14. Why is it that fish swimming together in a school never run into each other? 15. Name three of the several ways fishes have adapted certain body parts to survive in their marine environment. 16. Design your own fish, choosing a body shape and parts that serve certain functions. Describe how it moves, what sort of environment it lives in, what it eats, what it eats, and how its morphology helps it do those things. Draw your fish to illustrate it design.
D. Green moray eel
