Lesson Plan -- Shipwrecks of NC: Where do the fish live? -- Avery B Paxton  

Name: Date:

Worksheet 2: Fish Morphology

Fish Morphology, Part 1: Cross-Sectional Body Shape

Instructions: Fill in the table on fish cross-sectional body shape. Cross-Sectional

Body Shape Name Example Characteristics Shipwreck Habitat

Fusiform

(Ex: Yellow-fin tuna)

Streamlined. Fast-swimmer. Often in water-

column.

Water column above

shipwreck.

Compressed

(Ex: Tautog)

Quick speeds for short distances.

Not always moving because

use bursts of speed.

Around and in wreck structure.

Depressed

(Ex: Gulf flounder)

Swim along bottom like a flying bird. These are

bottom-dwellers.

Bottom of shipwreck or nearby sand.

Anguilliform

(Ex: Conger eel)

Not good swimmers.

Ribbon shaped.

Crevices in shipwrecks.

Lesson Plan -- Shipwrecks of NC: Where do the fish live? -- Avery B Paxton  

Fish Morphology, Part 2: Caudal Fin Shape

Instructions: Fill in the table on fish caudal fin shape.

Cross-Sectional Body Shape Name Example Characteristics Shipwreck

Habitat

Rounded

(Ex: Queen Angelfish)

Short bursts of speed. High

maneuverability. Lots of drag.

Around and in wreck

structure.

Truncated

(Ex: Yellowedge Grouper)

Short bursts of speed. Good

maneuverability. Not as much

drag as rounded. These are

usually bottom-dwellers.

Bottom of shipwreck.

Forked

(Ex: Sheepshead)

Good speed over longer distances.

Good maneuverability. Less drag than

truncated.

Around and in wreck

structure.

Lunate

(Ex: Blue runner)

High speed over long distances.

Poor maneuverability. Rigid with less surface area and

less drag.

Water column above

shipwreck.

Lesson Plan -- Shipwrecks of NC: Where do the fish live? -- Avery B Paxton  

Fish Morphology, Part 3: NC Shipwrecks Instructions: Indicate the morphological characteristics of each fish species. Use your understanding of morphology to decide where each fish would live on a shipwreck.

Fish Cross-Sectional Body Shape

Caudal Fin Shape Shipwreck Habitat

Spottail pinfish (Diplodus holbrooki)

Compressed Forked Schools around wreck structure.

Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili)

Fusiform

Lunate

Water column above wreck

Summer Flounder (Paralichthys denatus)

Depressed Rounded Sand around wreck

Tomtate (Haemulon aurolineatum)

Compressed Forked Schools around wreck structure

Oyster Toadfish (Opsanus tau)

Compressed Rounded Hides in shipwreck

Lesson Plan -- Shipwrecks of NC: Where do the fish live? -- Avery B Paxton  

Gag Grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis)

Compressed Truncate Hides in shipwreck

Black Sea Bass (Centropristis striata)

Compressed Rounded Bottom, including sand around wreck

Round Scad (Decapterus punctuatus)

Fusiform

Lunate

Water column above wreck

Belted Sandfish (Serranus subligarius)

Compressed Truncate Hides in shipwreck

Goldentail Moray (Gymnothorax miliaris)

Anguilliform N/A Hides in shipwreck

Lesson Plan -- Shipwrecks of NC: Where do the fish live? -- Avery B Paxton  

Name: ANSWER KEY Date:

Worksheet 2: Fish Morphology

Fish Morphology, Part 1: Cross-Sectional Body Shape

Instructions: Fill in the table on fish cross-sectional body shape. Cross-Sectional

Body Shape Name Example Characteristics Shipwreck Habitat

Fusiform

(Ex: Yellow-fin tuna)

Streamlined. Fast-swimmer. Often in water-

column.

Water column above

shipwreck.

Compressed

(Ex: Tautog)

Quick speeds for short distances.

Not always moving because

use bursts of speed.

Around and in wreck structure.

Depressed

(Ex: Gulf flounder)

Swim along bottom like a flying bird. These are bottom-dwellers.

Bottom of shipwreck or nearby sand.

Anguilliform

(Ex: Conger eel)

Not good swimmers.

Ribbon shaped.

Crevices in shipwrecks.

Lesson Plan -- Shipwrecks of NC: Where do the fish live? -- Avery B Paxton  

Fish Morphology, Part 2: Caudal Fin Shape

Instructions: Fill in the table on fish caudal fin shape. Caudal Fin Shape Name Example Characteristics Shipwreck

Habitat

Rounded

(Ex: Queen Angelfish)

Short bursts of speed. High maneuverability. Lots of drag.

Around and in wreck structure.

Truncated

(Ex: Yellowedge Grouper)

Short bursts of speed. Good maneuverability. Not as much drag as rounded. These are usually bottom-dwellers.

Bottom of shipwreck.

Forked

(Ex: Sheepshead)

Good speed over longer distances. Good maneuverability. Less drag than truncated.

Around and in wreck structure.

Lunate

(Ex: Blue runner)

High speed over long distances. Poor maneuverability. Rigid with less surface area and less drag.

Water column above shipwreck.

Lesson Plan -- Shipwrecks of NC: Where do the fish live? -- Avery B Paxton  

Fish Morphology, Part 3: NC Shipwrecks Instructions: Indicate the morphological characteristics of each fish species. Use your understanding of morphology to decide where each fish would live on a shipwreck.

Fish Cross-Sectional Body Shape

Caudal Fin Shape Shipwreck Habitat

Spottail pinfish (Diplodus holbrooki)

Compressed Forked Schools around wreck structure.

Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili)

Fusiform

Lunate

Water column above wreck

Summer Flounder (Paralichthys denatus)

Depressed Rounded Sand around wreck

Tomtate (Haemulon aurolineatum)

Compressed Forked Schools around wreck structure

Oyster Toadfish (Opsanus tau)

Compressed Rounded Hides in shipwreck

Lesson Plan -- Shipwrecks of NC: Where do the fish live? -- Avery B Paxton  

Gag Grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis)

Compressed Truncate Hides in shipwreck

Black Sea Bass (Centropristis striata)

Compressed Rounded Bottom, including sand around wreck

Round Scad (Decapterus punctuatus)

Fusiform

Lunate

Water column above wreck

Belted Sandfish (Serranus subligarius)

Compressed Truncate Hides in shipwreck

Goldentail Moray (Gymnothorax miliaris)

Anguilliform N/A Hides in shipwreck

Lesson Plan -- Shipwrecks of NC: Where do the fish live? -- Avery B Paxton