Fish Adaptations

Fishes are thought to be the most ancient and diverse group of vertebrates.
They form a
vast array of distinctly related gill-breathing aquatic vertebrates with fins. The first
vertebrates to evolve were found to be jawless fishes, members of the class Agnatha,
which appeared approximately five hundred million years ago. They (fishes) are a large
and genetically diverse class of vertebrates hence they vary in colour, shape or size.
However fishes may share some common characteristics. These are as follows: they are
aquatic dwellers as well as ectoterms. In this group the members breathe largely by gills
and in the a few cases via supplemental lungs for example the lungfish. The body of this
vertebrate has the skin being naked or covered with keratinous scales. The skeleton of
some fishes are made of cartilage, some true bone and others a combination of the two.
Fishes possess strong post– anal tails which along with it fins aid them in locomotion.
They may be monoecious or dioecious with there fertilization being predominantly
external.
In order for the class fishes to have been able to survive and be able to form such a
unique group among vertebrates adaptation must have taken place in some form to
facilitate survive during harsh climate change. Adaptation, in biology, is the process by
which a living organism becomes better suited for its environment. It may also be defined
as a trait within an organism that confers some survival advantage. In fishes two types of
adaptations seen quite frequently are structural and functional adaptations. In the first
case of structural adaptation this deals with the make up of the organisms (in this case
fishes) physical person or body and the modifications it has for surviving and
reproducing in its environment. Some appendages and organs of the body that have arose
or modified some what for the fish’s survival include the scales, fins, spines, gills and the
swim bladder.
In fish ancestors and older fishes heavy, large, dermal plates covered the external body of
fishes making movement slow in the bulky armor and increasing the catches of being
captured by predators. Over the years this dermal plate has modified to the light weight
scales seen in shark and trout which allow for speed and mobility in the organism.
The function of the fins in modern fishes has not changed much from ancient ones. They
are still used for steering and propulsion however they are now more efficiently designed
for different movement and other functions as well. The pectoral fins of the flying fish for
example are usually extended which helps it to leap into the air and glide about fifty
meters.
Spines in fishes play an important role in protection of these organisms from predators or
any detected dangers. The puffer fish, for example, when threatened will inflate itself
projecting its spines outward in a defensive display. While the spine in the tail of the
stingray possesses toxin which it injects into other organisms when corned.
The gills of fishes have a function in respiration in the organisms however some may aslo have
feeding roles in them (fishes) as it traps and ingests any food material caught within its folds.
The swimming bladderwhich originated from the paired lungs of the primitive Devonian fishes
helps to maintain netural bouyancy together with the tail and fins of fishes.it works by displcing
the water equivalent to the gas in the swim bladder.
A functional adaptation is any adaptation that helps an organism to survive. With fishes,
these adaptations may include: camouflage, migration, locomotion, feeding and
reproduction.
The use of camouflage by an organism as a mode of survival entails it blending its

outward appearance with its environment in a bid to capture prey or evade predators.
Fishes among other organisms use migration as a means of surviving.
Migration occurs as a result of different reasons. Some migrate when the seasonal climate
of their ecosystem or habitat forces them to change their habitat. While others migrate in
order to reproduce. The change in habitat in this case is to facilitate the best environment
for raising offspring as in the case of the salmon.
Locomotion allows a fish to look for food, seek mate and search for new habitats. In
fishes it occurs by the contraction of muscles in the body which causes the tail of the
animal to create waves which propel them forward. The fins aid in steering the fish.
Feeding plays a major role in the development and growth of fishes. Like other
organisms, fishes fall into the categories of herbivores, carnivores and omnivores. These
categories may be exploited by fishes in a solitary or group manner.
In order for a species to continue it would have to reproduce. Fishes have evolved in
their mean s of reproducing. They can have separate sexes or be hermaphrodite in nature.
Oviparocity or oviviparocity can take place. Fishes can spawn and leave their offsprings
while others stay throughout their (offspring) development.
All these adaptations are means of continuing the species.

References
Unknown; unknown; Adaptations in fishes;

http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/sustain/adapt.html; 04/04/2011
Unknown; unknown; Adaptations; http://science.howstuffworks.com/dictionary/biology-
terms/adaptation-info.htm ; 04/04/2011
Plumb Angela; 15/02/2002; Adaptations in living things- part 2;
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/science_students/89045; 04/04/2011
Unknown; unknown; Native Freshwater Fish;

http://www.reec.nsw.edu.au/geo/fish/adapsfi.htm ; 02/04/2011
Unknown; unknown; How Fish Use Adaptations;

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/education/adapt/adapt.htm; 02/04/2011

Fish Adaptations

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Fish Adaptations

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What are some common characteristics that fishes share?

How have the scales and fins of fishes adapted over time?

Fishes are thought to be the most ancient and diverse group of vertebrates.

The use of camouflage by an organism as a mode of survival entails it blending its

All these adaptations are means of continuing the species.

Unknown; unknown; Adaptations in fishes;

Unknown; unknown; Native Freshwater Fish;

Unknown; unknown; How Fish Use Adaptations;

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