The Sea - Fish

This fish which appears in question 7 is often notoriously ill-tempered in aquariums. Can you identify it?

The Sea - Fish

The oceans of the world are full of life. This quiz takes a look specifically at fish. There are over 25,000 identified species of fish in the world. It's surprising what fish can do - the spotted climbing perch is able to absorb oxygen from the air and will crawl overland using its strong pectoral fins. Some species of fish can fly (glide), others can skip along the surface and others still can even climb rocks!

Fear of fish is known as ichthyophobia. And galeophobia is fear of a specific type of fish - sharks.

Which of these options do you prefer?

  1. What is the name of this fish?

    Photograph courtesy of West Brom 4ever
    • Order: Anguilliformes
    • Family: Congridae
    • Genus: Conger
    • Species: C. conger
    • Found all around the British Isles.
    • Prefers rough ground, preferably a reef or a wreck.
    • Their average length is 3 m, making them the largest eels in the world.
    • One particular species if an important food fish in East Asia, mainly served on sushi.

  2. What is the name of this fish?

    Photograph courtesy of Greg Skomal
    • Order: Lamniformes
    • Family: Cetorhinidae
    • Genus: Cetorhinus
    • Species: C. maximus
    • Can be found in all the world's temperate oceans.
    • Slow moving and in the main harmless.
    • Has very small teeth, but lots of them!
    • A vulnerable species due to over-exploitation.
    • Tolerant of boats and divers approaching it and may even circle divers.

  3. What is the name of this fish?

    Photograph courtesy of Thomas Ernst
    • Order: Carcharhiniformes
    • Family: Scyliorhinidae
    • Genus: Scyliorhinus
    • Species: S. canicula
    • An abundant and widespread species.
    • The texture of their skin is rough, similar to the coarseness of sandpaper.
    • An opportunistic species which preys on a wide range of food.
    • It is regularly used by near-shore fisheries for human consumption.

  4. An old British name for the common stingray is what?

    Photograph courtesy of Florin DUMITRESCU
    • Order: Myliobatiformes
    • Family: Dasyatidae
    • Genus: Dasyatis
    • Species: D. pastinaca
    • Prefers sandy or muddy habitats and will bury itself in sediment.
    • Its tail is slender and whip-like, around half as long as the disc.
    • The pectoral fins or 'wings' are sold smoked or dried and salted.

  5. What is the name of this fish?

    Photograph courtesy of Linda Snook
    • Their closest living relatives are sharks.
    • Generally confined to deep water - 2,600 metres (8,500 ft).
    • Have a venomous spine located in front of the dorsal fin for defence.
    • Differ from sharks in that their upper jaws are fused with their skulls.
    • They also lack sharks' many sharp and replaceable teeth, having instead just three pairs of large permanent grinding tooth plates.

  6. What is the name of this fish?

    Photograph courtesy of Mila Zinkova
    • Order: Tetraodontiformes
    • Family: Tetraodontidae
    • Believed to be the second–most poisonous vertebrate in the world, after the Golden Poison Frog.
    • However, the meat of some species is considered a delicacy in Asia.
    • Are able to move their eyes independently, just like the chameleon.

  7. What is the name of this fish?

    Photograph courtesy of Arpingstone.
    • Order: Tetraodontiformes
    • Family: Balistidae
    • Often marked by lines and spots.
    • A number of species are popular in the marine aquarium trade, however they are often notoriously ill-tempered!
    • Are known to exhibit a level of intelligence that is unusual among fish, and have the ability to learn from previous experiences.

  8. Seahorses are monogamous - what does this mean?

    Photograph courtesy of Drew R. Smith
    • Order: Syngnathiformes
    • Family: Syngnathidae
    • Genus: Hippocampus
    • Species: H. kuda
    • The female deposits eggs into the male’s small pouch, and then leaves.
    • Out of the entire animal kingdom, these are the only animals in which the male has babies.

  9. What is the name of this fish?

    Photograph courtesy of Jonmp
    • Order: Perciformes
    • Family: Labridae
    • Genus: Labrus
    • Species: L. bergylta
    • All are female for their first eight years then some change into males!
    • It is popular as a food fish in the Orkney Islands and in Galway.
    • In recent years it has become a popular catch and release target for sport fishermen.

  10. What is the name of this fish?

    Photograph courtesy of Mark Conlin
    • Order: Carcharhiniformes
    • Family: Carcharhinidae
    • Genus: Prionace
    • Species: P. glauca
    • Although generally lethargic, they can move very quickly.
    • They produce large litters of between 25-100 pups.
    • Their nickname is 'wolves of the sea'.
    • It is the most widely distributed animal in the world.
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