Koi

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/koi

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?Cyprinus rubrofuscus
2. What is the conservation status?Not applicable (domesticated animal)
3. What makes koi fish so colorful?Farmers picked carp that had special colors like red or white and raised them in separate ponds. Over many generations, this created the bright patterns we see today.
4. Why do koi have names like Kohaku or Sanke?Those names describe the fish’s color patterns. For example, Kohaku is red and white, while Sanke has white, red, and black.

Amur Carp: The wild ancestor species (Cyprinus rubrofuscus) from which all domesticated koi varieties have been developed.
Selective Breeding: A human-controlled process of choosing individuals with specific traits to reproduce, leading to the development of distinct breeds or varieties over time.
Ornamental Aquaculture: The practice of raising fish, like koi, primarily for aesthetic purposes in gardens and decorative water features.
Gosanke: A prestigious classification of koi varieties, specifically Kohaku, Sanke, and Showa, known for their red, white, and black markings.