Deep-sea fish

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/deep-sea-fish

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Diverse families within Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) and Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fishes)
2. What is the temperature range?Approximately 0-4°C (32-39°F)
3. What makes deep‑sea fish glow?They produce light through chemical reactions called bioluminescence. This light can attract prey, scare predators, or help fish talk to each other.
4. Why do deep‑sea fish have big mouths?Their mouths can stretch and they have huge stomachs so they can swallow big meals when food is rare. This helps them survive long gaps between meals.

Hydrostatic Pressure: The pressure exerted by a fluid due to the weight of the fluid above, increasing significantly with ocean depth.
Photophores: Light-emitting organs found in bioluminescent organisms, used for various functions like communication and camouflage.
Marine Snow: A continuous shower of organic detritus falling from the upper layers of the water column to the deep ocean floor, forming a primary food source.