Extension Ideas
Ask students to discuss animals other than fish. What features do animals such as giraffes, anteaters, kangaroos, and skunks have that are adaptive? Can you think of some other animals that have special features that make them especially well suited to their habitat? Birds are a wonderful everyday example: are their feet adapted to perch on tree trunks or to run on the beach or to swim? Are their beaks good for cracking nuts or for getting insects out of tiny spaces or for sifting through water? Are their wings adapted for the silent flight of a predator? Anyone with a backyard birdfeeder could share some knowledge of what birds eat and how.
Discuss how plants might adapt to an environment and ask if they can think of any plants that have adaptive features.
What would happen if the environment changed? How do you think animals such as dinosaurs became extinct? Are animals becoming extinct today? Research an endangered species and share your findings with the class. Find out about the animal's habitat. Look for some features that make it well suited for that environment. Tell the class why the animal is endangered. Is there some connection between the animal's features, its habitat, and the animal being endangered?
Visit the University of Michigan's Museum of Zoology Division of Fishes for more information about fish.