fish

(plural – fish or fishes – ‘fishes’ is mostly used to refer to different kinds of fish in any given large area)

the largest fish

a creature (living thing) that lives in water, with usually a streamlined body with a backbone; (in most species – kinds) skin covered with scales (small pieces of tough waterproof material, like the nails on people’s fingers); some species are bony and some are cartilaginous (not bone but hard bone-like material); cold-blooded (this word ‘cold-blooded’ is old usage; in the present advanced world the temperature of the blood in the fish is called ‘ectothermic’); takes in oxygen in water (breathes) by means of ‘gills’, and an extra organ to take in oxygen from air above water surface; with pairs of fins to keep upright (balance) and to move from side to side in water (fish do not use their fins to move forward like using paddles to move a boat, but use the tail fin and the tail part by moving it from side to side); lays eggs – some kinds lay eggs outside, in the water, and some kinds keep the eggs in their bodies until they hatch and then give birth to live young; though the streamlined shape is common or traditional, different species have different shapes and sizes: the smallest being the ‘stout infant fish’, only ¼ of an inch, to the largest being the ‘whale shark’, about 50 feet long; different species (kinds) feed on different things: plant matter, moss, algae, zooplankton (very small living organisms in water), insects, other fish, and other water animal, like crab, clams, snails, slugs, shrimps, krill, etc.; different species (kinds) live for different periods of time: from just 2 months to 25 or even 40 years; about 32,500 species found in all the waters of the world, of which 25,000 are bony fish, i.e. fish with bones, scales and ray-fins

In this course material most of the fish are discussed under their individual names, like “angler fish” under the letter ‘A’; “barracuda” & “bass” under ‘B’; “eel’ under ‘E’, etc.
The meat of the fish people eat is also called ‘fish’.  The eggs which are usually found in a lump in the females are called ‘roe’, and are eaten as a special dish by people.

the smallest fish

male ~~ male

female ~~ female

baby ~~ fry

group ~~ school, shoal, draught (draft), haul, catch, run

home ~~ nest (not in the traditional sense, as the nest of a bird, but just a dip in the soil at the bottom of the water — in the gravel, smooth mud, etc. to lay eggs)

Some water animals that have ‘fish’ in their names but do not belong to the real fish are: cuttle fish, starfish, crayfish, jellyfish, etc.

fish as food

Special Features:
{Several fish in their individual names are the national animals of many countries.}

Fish are one of the main food source for millions of people around the world!

Fish are the largest group of animals; they account for half the living beings with back-bones.

Fish have been hunted for their meat, skin, bone, oil and scales, and they have also been hunted for sport, called ‘angling’ – using a fishing rod and a thin strong line, and have been kept as pets all over the world.

A glass tank with water in which fish are kept as pets is called an ‘aquarium’ or a ‘fishtank’.

Hindu god's incarnation as a fish

The process of growing fish on farms is called ‘aquaculture’ or ‘fish farming’ which is a very profitable business.

Fish have been associated with the people for centuries.  They have been found not only in the ancient scriptures but also in the modern stories, comics, cartoons, radio & TV shows and in the motion pictures (films).  The thrilling stories told by the sailors have been a very popular pastime almost all over the world.

In one of His ten incarnations, the Supreme God of Hindu religion takes the form of a fish!

About the Author:BC Kumar

BC Kumar, an English Language Teacher, taught in numerous countries including Ethiopia, Oman and India, shares his knowledge and passion for the English Language. Disclaimer: This is a free educational website and all content has been compiled by the author. All copyrights to images and videos belong to their respective owners.

Comments are closed.