Northern pike

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/northern-pike

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?Esox lucius
2. What is the typical habitat?Lakes, slow-moving rivers, and backwaters with abundant submerged vegetation and structure
3. What does a Northern Pike look like?A Northern Pike has a long, sleek body that can grow over 5 feet long and weigh more than 70 pounds. It has a duck‑bill shape head with many sharp, replaceable teeth, and its green and brown spots help it hide in water plants.
4. How fast can a Northern Pike swim?Its strong tail and streamlined shape let it make quick bursts of speed, helping it chase down prey over long distances.

Fusiform Body Shape: A streamlined, torpedo-like body shape that reduces drag in water.
Prognathous Jaw: A jaw that protrudes forward, characteristic of the Northern pike's snout.
Piscivorous: An animal that primarily eats fish.
Broadcast Spawning: A reproductive strategy where eggs and sperm are released into the water column for external fertilization.