Aquatic AnimalsAquatic AnimalsMosquito Fish

Pond Snails

Mosquito FishMosquito Fish*Mosquito fish look a lot like guppies, but they are more *Mosquito fish look a lot like guppies, but they are more

adaptableadaptable..-they don’t mind sudden movement or changes-they don’t mind sudden movement or changes-they can survive a wide range of temperatures -they can survive a wide range of temperatures

(from 40°F- 100°F)(from 40°F- 100°F)-they can live in almost any body of fresh water-they can live in almost any body of fresh water

*Mosquito fish are *Mosquito fish are territorialterritorial, which means they will fight , which means they will fight off other types of fish in their tank.off other types of fish in their tank.

guppies

mosquito fish

*The scientific name of the mosquito fish is *The scientific name of the mosquito fish is GambusiaGambusia..*It lives along the southeastern coast of the United *It lives along the southeastern coast of the United

States, in places like States, in places like North CarolinaNorth Carolina..*They like live food, including *They like live food, including elodeaelodea..*They are most famous for feeding on *They are most famous for feeding on mosquito larvaemosquito larvae

(immature mosquitoes that wriggle around in the (immature mosquitoes that wriggle around in the water before they can fly—baby mosquitoes), which water before they can fly—baby mosquitoes), which helps lower the number of helps lower the number of mosquitoesmosquitoes in the air. in the air.

This fish has been brought to more than 70 countries This fish has been brought to more than 70 countries around the world to help control mosquitoes!around the world to help control mosquitoes!

*Mosquito fish bodies are covered with *Mosquito fish bodies are covered with protective protective scalesscales that overlap like roof that overlap like roof tiles or shingles.tiles or shingles.

*They have *They have large round eyeslarge round eyes and see very and see very well. well.

*They have a dark line (called a *They have a dark line (called a lateral linelateral line) ) running the length of their bodies. It is running the length of their bodies. It is made up of sensitive nerve endings that made up of sensitive nerve endings that detect pressure in the water.detect pressure in the water.

*They breathe by pumping water through *They breathe by pumping water through their mouth and over their their mouth and over their gillsgills. .

Male or Female?Male or Female?

MaleMale*Grow up to *Grow up to 1½1½ inches inches

longlong**pale grayish-bluepale grayish-blue color color**slimslim body body*round *round tailtail*dorsal fin and tail often *dorsal fin and tail often

marked with rows of marked with rows of tiny dark dots. tiny dark dots.

FemaleFemale*Grow up to *Grow up to 2½2½ inches inches

longlong**pale grayish-bluepale grayish-blue color color*body is *body is plumpplump*round *round tail and finstail and fins*dorsal fin and tail often *dorsal fin and tail often

marked with rows of marked with rows of tiny dark dots. tiny dark dots.

Having BabiesHaving Babies*When a female mosquito fish is pregnant, *When a female mosquito fish is pregnant,

her abdomen becomes very swollenher abdomen becomes very swollen. . *A black spot, called a *A black spot, called a gravid spotgravid spot, appears on , appears on

each side of her body just above the rear fin.each side of her body just above the rear fin.*She may have from *She may have from 3 to 2003 to 200 fry at one time fry at one time

(usually it’s between (usually it’s between 40 and 5040 and 50).).*Mosquito fish are *Mosquito fish are live-bearerslive-bearers, meaning their , meaning their

fry are born alive and fully formed. fry are born alive and fully formed.

FryFry*Baby mosquito fish are called *Baby mosquito fish are called fryfry..*When they are born, they are rounded and dull-*When they are born, they are rounded and dull-

colored, but more colored, but more transparenttransparent than adults. than adults.*Like most live-bearers, mosquito fish like to *Like most live-bearers, mosquito fish like to

eat their fryeat their fry..*To survive, the baby fish swim immediately to *To survive, the baby fish swim immediately to

plants for plants for protectionprotection. . (This is another reason elodea is so important in our (This is another reason elodea is so important in our

aquariums!)aquariums!)*Within *Within a week or twoa week or two, the fry will be too large for , the fry will be too large for

their parents to swallow.their parents to swallow.

Label your mosquito fish:Label your mosquito fish:

SnailsSnails*Snails are found *Snails are found all over the globeall over the globe..*There are more than:*There are more than:

- 1,500 kinds that live - 1,500 kinds that live on landon land - 35,000 kinds that live - 35,000 kinds that live in the seain the sea - 80,000 kinds that live - 80,000 kinds that live in fresh waterin fresh water

*Our snails are fresh water *Our snails are fresh water pond snailspond snails..*Snails belong to a large class of animals called *Snails belong to a large class of animals called

gastropodsgastropods, which means “, which means “stomach footstomach foot”. ”.

*Gastropods have a soft body that is covered by a *Gastropods have a soft body that is covered by a shellshell, which:, which:

--hides them and protects them from hides them and protects them from predatorspredators -has space for an -has space for an air bubbleair bubble so it can so it can breathebreathe

through its lungsthrough its lungs

Inside the snail’s body, an organ called the Inside the snail’s body, an organ called the mantlemantle secretes the shell.secretes the shell.

*Part of the soft body that sticks out of the shell is *Part of the soft body that sticks out of the shell is called the “called the “footfoot”.”.

-it is made mainly of -it is made mainly of musclesmuscles-it helps the snail -it helps the snail movemove-it releases a thin film of -it releases a thin film of mucusmucus which which helps the snail glide alonghelps the snail glide along

*Snails don’t make any noise and can not hear.*Snails don’t make any noise and can not hear.

*The *The headhead has a set of has a set of tentaclestentacles with with eyeseyes. .

*Snails can move them up and down to see, although *Snails can move them up and down to see, although they don’t see very well. (probably only light and they don’t see very well. (probably only light and dark)dark)

*The snail’s *The snail’s mouthmouth is on the underside of the head. It is on the underside of the head. It is a small opening that opens and closes. is a small opening that opens and closes.

*Inside the mouth is a tongue called a *Inside the mouth is a tongue called a radularadula. It has . It has tiny tiny teethteeth that file down the snail’s food into bits. that file down the snail’s food into bits.

*Pond snails are *Pond snails are scavengersscavengers. They eat the soft . They eat the soft tissues of tissues of dead plants and animalsdead plants and animals. They are like . They are like the “clean up” crew of their environment. the “clean up” crew of their environment.

*Pond snails will also eat *Pond snails will also eat algae and live plantsalgae and live plants. .

Baby SnailsBaby Snails*Most snails reproduce by *Most snails reproduce by laying eggslaying eggs. The eggs . The eggs

grow in a clear “jelly” substance near the water grow in a clear “jelly” substance near the water line or on the underside of leaves in the water.line or on the underside of leaves in the water.

*In a week or two, the baby snails *In a week or two, the baby snails walk outwalk out, little , little copies of their parents.copies of their parents.

*As the baby snail’s soft body grows, its outer shell *As the baby snail’s soft body grows, its outer shell does too. The snail makes its own shell, much does too. The snail makes its own shell, much like you grow your own fingernails, so it needs like you grow your own fingernails, so it needs calciumcalcium from its environment. from its environment.

Label your snail:Label your snail: