Porcupine fish

Porcupine fish

Pencil and paperOnline interactive
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Working with Students
Further Resources
This task is about features of a fish.

Question 1Change answer

 
 
porcupine fish from the side
Side view
When a porcupine fish is swimming normally its spines lie flat along its body.
  
porcupine fish from the front
Front view
A porcupine fish can inflate its body.
The fish now looks 2-3 times its normal size.
 
The porcupine fish swallows water quickly and inflates itself when danger approaches. 
Give two ways this would help protect the fish.
1. 2.
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper or online.
Level:
3
Description of task: 
Students give two reasons why it is an advantage for a porcupine fish to inflate its body and have its spines stick out when it is in danger.
Curriculum Links: 
Science capabilities
The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.
 
Capability: Gather and interpret data
This resource provides opportunities to discuss what we can learn about animals by looking at them carefully and suggesting reasons for what we see. 
 
 
Science capabilities: 
Making Better Sense: 
Answers/responses: 
  Y6 (11/1998)
Any 2 of:

  • Makes itself look larger.
  • Spines now stick out.
  • More difficult to eat.
  • To scare off predators.
2 correct – difficult

1 correct – easy