Aquatic Adaptations

Fill in the blank

100

Fish have _ bodies that allow them to swim efficiently through water

streamlined

200

Fish possess _ that allow them to breathe in the water

gills

300

Animals like octopuses use _ to blend in with their environment and avoid predators

camouflage

400

Animals like whales and seals are m_________ and therefore, don't have gills. They have l____ instead. 

mammals, lungs

500

Fish use their s______ b______ to maintain, rise or sink their depth in the water

swim bladder

Definitions

100

What are fins used for?

To move and maneuver through the water

200

What is bioluminescence?

• Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by living organisms. In aquatic environments, many deep-sea creatures use bioluminescence for communication, attracting prey, or confusing predators.

300

What is a gill?

• A gill is a respiratory organ found in aquatic animals, such as fish, that extracts dissolved oxygen from water and releases carbon dioxide.

400

What is an autotroph?

• An autotroph is an organism that can create its own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. In aquatic ecosystems, producers include algae, phytoplankton, and aquatic plants.

500

What are decomposers?

• Decomposers are organisms that break down dead plant and animal matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. In aquatic environments, decomposers include bacteria, fungi, and some invertebrates.

True or False

100

Which freshwater animal can regenerate lost limbs, including parts of its heart and brain? A frog or an axolotl? 

An axolotl

200

Which marine animal sleeps with half of its brain awake to stay alert for predators? Sea Turtle or dolphin?

Dolphin

300

Which marine animal can detach a limb to escape predators and later regenerate it? Starfish or octopus?

Starfish

400

Which freshwater animal has transparent eyelids that allow it to see underwater while keeping its eyes protected? A frog or an alligator?

A frog

500

Which marine animal has special light-producing organs (bioluminescence) to attract prey in deep waters? Anglerfish or a seahorse?

Anglerfish

Behavioural

100

Why do octopus skirt ink when threatened? 

To create a smoke-screen effect that confuses predators and allows them to escape

200

What is one reason that fish migrate?

Reproduction, feeding, temperature changes, predators, oxygen

300

Why do sharks have to keep swimming constantly?

Some species rely on ram ventilation, meaning they need to keep moving to push water over their gills for oxygen intake.

400

What is the primary defensive adaptation used by pufferfish to stay alive and how does it help?

They inflate their bodies to make themselves larger and more difficult for predators to swallow.

500

Can you explain echolocation, for example, how it is used by dolphins?

• Dolphins use echolocation by producing high-pitched sounds that bounce off objects in the water. By interpreting the echoes, they can navigate, locate prey, and communicate with other dolphins.