Tuna

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/tuna

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?Thunnini
2. What is the habitat?Epipelagic and mesopelagic zones of temperate and tropical oceans worldwide
3. What makes tuna so fast swimmers?Tuna have a special heat system called rete mirabile that keeps their muscles warm, plus a sleek body shape and a powerful tail that reduce drag.
4. Why do tuna need to be warm inside the body?Warm muscles help tuna move faster and work better, so they can chase prey and travel long distances.

Endothermy: The ability of an organism to generate and retain internal heat, maintaining a stable body temperature.
Rete Mirabile: A complex network of blood vessels that facilitates heat exchange, crucial for tuna's warm-bloodedness.
Pelagic Zone: The open ocean environment, encompassing the water column away from the seabed and coastline.
Trophic Level: The position an organism occupies in a food chain, indicating its feeding relationships.