Ichthyology

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/ichthyology

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 discipline?Ichthyology is a specialized branch of zoology
2. What is the number of described species?Over 35,800 species documented as of March 2025
3. Why do scientists study fish?Scientists study fish to learn how they help oceans and rivers stay healthy. They also find ways to protect fish from danger and keep food for people.
4. How do ichthyologists find new fish species?They catch fish with nets and watch them in the water. They also read tiny DNA bits in water to see which fish are there.

Morphology: The study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features.
Piscine: Relating to or resembling fish.
Anthropogenic: Originating in human activity.
eDNA: Environmental DNA, genetic material shed by organisms into their surroundings.