Fish have scales to reduce their drag in the water (i.e. the amount of effort it takes them to swim from A to B).
– this link is for an electron microscope image of a shark’s skin. As you’ll see it’s made up of lots of tiny scales that look a bit like teeth. They are shaped like this to break up the flow of water that’s in contact their bodies and thus reduce their drag (because of complicated fluid mechanical reasons that I probably couldn’t explain properly to you if I tried)
The scales also provide external protection to the body (for example fish might scratch against a rock or a coral). The scales are like a “suit of armour”
Fish also use their scales to communicate to other fish or for camoflage.
Some fish change colour when they’ve found a mate–It’s like a fish wedding ring. Pink Square Anthias get a pink square on their side when they’re coupled up. Other fish, like lionfish, have bright colours to warn predators that they’re poisonous.
Some fish use their colouration to blend in. Cod and rockfish look just like algae-covered stones. This lets them avoid predators and ambush prey.
Fish scales grow out of the skin and are probably similar to teeth in the way they form. Different groups of fishes have different kinds of scales, while some have none at all!
Comments
Thon commented on :
Fish scales grow out of the skin and are probably similar to teeth in the way they form. Different groups of fishes have different kinds of scales, while some have none at all!
fishjunior commented on :
Thats re4ally cool!