Mouth: the position of a fish’s mouth can indicate whether a fish consumes prey from the surface, in front of it, or the sea floor.

Superior Mouth: the mouth is positioned toward the surface and the fish feed on what is above them

Terminal Fish: the mouth is positioned in the middle of the head and the fish either chases its prey or feeds on what is ahead of it

Inferior: the mouth is positioned toward the bottom and the fish prey upon or scavenge food on the bottom of the marine or freshwater source

Which type of mouth shape do you see on this fish?

Superior Mouth (This is a Tarpon)

What kind of mouth does this fish have?

This Mosquitofish has a terminal mouth orientation.

What kind of mouth does this fish have?

This Gulf Kingfish has an Inferior mouth

Now let’s talk about the Caudal Tail! Did you know that you can tell how quickly a fish moves by its Caudal Tail?

Remember that the Caudal Tail is connected with the speed and strength of a fish’s forward movement:

Continuous Caudal Tail: Fish swims at a slow speed but can maneuver well This fish will be able to swim into crevices and caves well This is a cobbler

Lunate Caudal Tail: Very fast fish Can maintain high speeds Lack of surface area on tail means that they cannot stop or turn easily (ex. Bluefin Tuna)

Forked Caudal Tail: Cruising fish that swims continuously at a fast rate Extra fin surface area provides better maneuverability than a fish with a lunate tail This is an Australian Herring

Truncate Caudal Tail: Cruises at an intermediate (in the middle) speed Good maneuverability due to large amounts of surface area on fins This is a Mangrove Jack

Rounded Caudal Tail: Fish swims at intermediate (middle) speeds Can maneuver well because of large amounts of surface area on the tail This is an Estuary Cod