An image of a fish

Lesson 5 - Marine Fishes and Reptiles

Introduction

In this lesson you will study the natural history and general biology of marine fishes and reptiles.
 
Getting Started Humans can intuitively understand more about the nature of marine animals that have backbones like ourselves. We can directly compare them with ourselves, even though they are cold blooded. In this lesson, you'll study the cold blooded fishes and reptiles.

Marine fishes and reptiles are highly adapted for survival in the marine environment. To become more aware of their adaptations, you might compare the body parts and behaviors of the marine fishes and reptiles with those of terrestrial or freshwater vertebrates. You are a handy terrestrial vertebrate to use in your comparisons.

Despite their differences, all marine fishes and reptiles have features they share. Since they live in the same environment, they must all perform tasks in somewhat the same way, and therefore they must have bodies that allow them to do so. Compare the marine fishes and reptiles you study in this lesson to one another.


Focus on Learning

 

Use the course competencies listed below to focus your learning and use the lesson objectives to sharpen that focus.
 
Competencies By the end of the lesson , you should be able to:
  1. Relate the structure of marine fish to their ability to live in their environment.
  2. Describe the way of life of the sea turtle and other marine reptiles.
 
Objectives

To master the competencies, you should be able to:

  1. Describe the external anatomy of the major groups of marine fishes and reptiles.
  2. Associate the anatomical structures of marine fishes and reptiles with their functions.
  3. Identify the swimming, feeding, and reproductive behaviors of selected marine fishes and reptiles.
  4. Describe the mechanisms by which marine fishes and reptiles perceive their surroundings and how their perceptions help them interact with their environment.


Reading Assignments

Reading Assignment Reading is a very important component of an internet course. Read the assigned pages from your textbook and coloring book before proceeding to the Instruction section.
   
Textbook Read the Assignments in Castro and Huber's Marine Biology Textbook:
5.1 Marine Fishes: Chapter 8
5.2 Marine Reptiles: Chapter 9
   
Coloring Book Read the Assignments in Niesen's Marine Biology Coloring Book:
5.1 Marine Fishes: Plates 43 to 52 and 85 to 88
5.2 Marine Reptiles: Plates 53 and 54
   
Complete the optional Reading Self Test after completing the reading assignments. Have your textbook open as you work on it. The self test is a warm up for the reading quiz that follows.
   
Reading Self Test
Log-in to BlackBoard and navigate to the Reading Self Test located in the Lesson Folder within Course Content:
Reading Self Test 5 The Marine Fishes and Reptiles
 



Instruction

Complete the Lecture Exercise below. The lecture exercise consists of two sets of online notes and a notes self test.
   
Study the online notes. Have your books and notebook open as you work on them. Add the information you find in the notes to your notebook or print them and add them to your notebook. The notes can be opened when completing the self test and quiz. The information you find in these notes is very helpful when completing the graded note quiz when assessing your learning below.
   
Online Notes
Read the Online Notes by Clicking the Links Below:
Notes 5.1 Marine Fishes
Notes 5.2 Marine Reptiles
   
Complete the optional Notes Self Test after studying the online notes. Have the online notes, your books and notebook open as you work on it. The self test is a warm up for the notes quiz that follows.
   
Notes Self Test
Log-in to BlackBoard and navigate to the Notes Self Test located in the Lesson Folder within Course Content:
Notes: Self Test 5 Marine Fishes and Reptiles
   
Complete the Laboratory Exercise below. The laboratory exercise consists of four lab activities and a lab self test.
   
Complete the Lab Activities. Have your books and notebook open as you work on them. Add the information you find in the lab activities to your notebook. The information in these activities is very helpful when completing the graded lab quiz when assesing your learning below.
   
Lab Activities
Complete the Lab Activities by Clicking the Links Below:
Lab Activity 5.1 Shark External Anatomy
Lab Activity 5.2 Shark Digestive Anatomy
Lab Activity 5.3 Shark Respiratory and Circulatory Anatomy
Lab Activity 5.4 Shark Urogenital and Nervous Anatomy
   
Complete the optional Lab Self Test after completing the lab activities. Have the online lab activities, your books and notebook open as you work on it. The self test is a warm up for the lab quiz that follows.
   
Lab Self Test
Log-in to BlackBoard and navigate to the Lab Self Test located in the Lesson Folder within Course Content:
Lab Self Test 5 Anatomy of the Shark



Assess Your Learning

It's time to assess what you have learned from the online notes. The following Reading Quiz is a graded assignment. Have your textbook open as you work on it. Be sure to submit your work when you complete it. Good luck!
   
Reading Quiz
Log-in to BlackBoard and navigate to the Reading Quiz located in the Lesson Folder within Course Content:
Reading Quiz 5 Marine Fishes and Reptiles
   
It's time to assess what you have learned from the online notes. The following Note Quiz is a graded assignment. Have your books and notebook open as you work on it. Be sure to submit your work when you complete it. Good luck!
   
Notes Quiz
Log-in to BlackBoard and navigate to the Notes Quiz located in the Lesson Folder within Course Content:
Notes Quiz 5 Marine Fishes and Reptiles
   
It's time to assess what you have learned from your lab activities. The following Lab Quiz is a graded assignment. Have your books and notebook open as you work on it. Be sure to submit your work when you complete it. Good luck!
   
Lab Quiz
Log-in to BlackBoard and navigate to the Lab Quiz located in the Lesson Folder within Course Content:
Lab Quiz 5 Anatomy of the Shark



Express Your Learning

It's time to think about the big picture and express what you have learned in this lesson. The following Essay Quiz is a graded assignment. Feel free to draw upon any of the work you have already done. Be sure to submit your essay quiz when you complete it. Good luck!
   
Essay Quiz
Log-in to BlackBoard and navigate to the Essay Quiz located in the Lesson Folder within Course Content:
Essay Quiz 5 Marine Fishes and Reptiles



Related Web Sites

Here is a website that I like in case you'd like to pursue this topic on the internet:

Sharks and their Relatives

Have You Met The Objectives For This Lesson?