Fish Facts

Fish are animals that can be found all over the world.

You may like to eat fish, admire them at zoos, or even keep them for pets.

They come in a huge variety of colors and sizes.

Continue reading to find out more amazing facts about fish.

**What are some characteristics of fish?**

#### There are a few things that all fish have in common, though.

   Fish have gills that help them to breathe in the water, and they are covered in scales.

These scales will usually get a layer of slime on them which helps the fish quickly glide through the water.

Fish have fins on their body and lay eggs.

#### **Where do fish live?**

Fish can be found almost anywhere there are bodies of water.

They can live high up in mountain streams all the way down to some of the deepest parts of the ocean.

About half of the species of fish live in the ocean, while the other half live in freshwater environments, like lakes, rivers, and streams.

A lot of ocean fish live in coral reefs while those in freshwater bodies might find a river basin or an inlet.

#### **What do fish like to eat?**

The diet of a fish depends on what type of fish it is.

Some fish are herbivores, who only eat plants, while others are carnivores, who only eat meat.

A lot of fish that live in coral reefs are eat plants and algae because it is in their habitat.

Fish that are carnivores will eat other fish, shrimp, krill, crabs, or even squids and octopus.

#### **How do fish protect themselves?**

The way fish protect themselves again depend on where they live as well as what kind of fish they are.

For a lot of fish, the best way to stay protected is to travel in a school.

Now, we aren’t talking about driving around in a building where students take classes.

Schools of fish are when large numbers of a certain group travel together.

Another way that many fish protect themselves from predators is to camouflage, or blend in, with their environment.

Fish will adapt their colors to match the sand, or even have fins and scales that look like plants you could see in the coral reef.

#### **What are some threats to fish?**

For fish that can be eaten, one of the biggest threats is humans.

Humans will overfish these populations of fish, such as cod and tuna, and then this hurts the entire species because the rest of the fish can’t reproduce fast enough to make up for the ones that were caught.

Another threat to fish is their habitat getting destroyed.

Fish that depend on coral reefs can become threatened when the reefs are destroyed, and those living in rivers and streams can be hurt if a dam is built or water is polluted.

#### **Quick Facts:**

There are over 30,000 different kinds of fish.

Fish have gills, slippery scales, and lay eggs.

They can live in high mountain streams, rivers, lakes, and all the way down to the bottom of the ocean.

Fish can be plant eaters, meat eaters, or a mix of these two.

Fish are threatened by overfishing as well as their **habitat**getting destroyed.

Fish are beautiful animals that can be seen in aquariums, exhibits, lakes, rivers, oceans, and even in your nearest restaurant.

Whether you like to fish for fun, keep them for a pet, or eat them for dinner, fish play an important role in our life and our Earth.