Freshwater

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In This Chapter Moving Breathing Sensing Drinking Identifying Figure 7-1: Try to get to know the most important parts of a fish. Chapter 7 Fish Anatomy Fish are truly amazing creatures. They have been roaming the earth’s waters for almost 450 million years and have adapted themselves over time in order to thrive in their watery environment. A species’ body shape, fin length, and other physical characteristics have been specially formed through evolution to meet the needs of different types of habitats. As you find out more about a fish’s physical makeup, you increase the odds of becoming a successful fishkeeper with that species. By becoming familiar with the physical characteristics of aquatic species, you will be able to purchase fish that are healthy, spot problems easier, and recognize disease quicker. Figure 7-1 shows the main parts of a fish. Caudal (tail) Fin Ureters Kidneys Anal Fin Intestine Scales Dorsal Fin Stomach Fin Ray Gill Heart Liver Swim Bladder Brain Eye Terminal Mouth Esophagus
82 Part II: Fish and How to Care for Them What Really Makes a Fish Go? At one time or another, everyone has stood transfixed, watching aquarium fish glide effortlessly through the water and wondering how they navigate through their liquid environment with such ease. What makes a fish swim better than we do? The answer is really quite simple. Fish have a set of fins (six or seven of them, depending on the species) that they use for locomotion. They also have a cool organ called a swim bladder that helps them stay afloat (otherwise they would sink; see the section “The swim bladder” near the end of this chapter for more). Fish have evolved to conquer their watery environment with adaptations that have created the perfect aquatic swimming machine. By contrast, even using rubber fins, humans can achieve only a pale imitation of their aquatic friends. To understand what makes a fish go, you must first understand each fin’s function. Each individual fin has a specific job to do, and the combined effort of all of a fish’s fins is what propels her through the water and helps her navigate smoothly. Fin functions are an interaction of muscle power and sheer grace. The dorsal fin The dorsal fin is located along the back of the fish between the tail fin and the head. This is the classic fin you see slicing through the water in the movie Jaws. If you happen to see a Jaws-type fin while swimming in the ocean, you may want to take up beach volleyball for a while. Fortunately for your peace of mind, the dorsal fins on your aquarium fish generally remain underwater. The dorsal fin provides lateral stability so that your fish can swim in a straight line. Controlled swimming conserves energy. A fish that cannot swim well doesn’t live very long because it can’t compete for food with its tankmates. Each fin consists of a series of individual rays (fin segments, some soft and some hard) loosely bound together by a membrane web. A few aquatic pets, such as some goldfish and knifefish, do not have dorsal fins. They have great difficulty swimming normally because they cannot keep their movement in a straight line. Other species such as rainbowfish have two dorsal fins.
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SPORTS, FITNESS, PARENTING, RELIGIO
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Ghost shrimp are freshwater inverte
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Platys are colorful, friendly fish
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Freshwater

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