Ribbon prickleback

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/ribbon-prickleback

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?Phytichthys chirus
2. What is the diet?Carnivore; feeds on small benthic invertebrates such as crustaceans and polychaete worms
3. Why does the Ribbon Prickleback have such a long, flat body?Its long, flat shape lets it slip into tiny cracks in rocks and thick kelp. This helps it hide from predators and find food. The shape also helps it swim by wiggling its body.
4. Where can I find a Ribbon Prickleback?You can find it in the rocky reefs, tide pools, and kelp forests along the coast of the northern Pacific Ocean. These places have lots of hiding spots and food for the fish.

Monospecific Genus: A genus that contains only one recognized species.
Laterally Compressed: Flattened from side to side, as opposed to top to bottom.
Benthic Invertebrates: Animals without backbones that live on or in the bottom of a body of water.