Fish are great brain food, so why not show off how smart fish have made you with some fun fish facts? Facts like these can be great for trivia contests, or they can be made into signs around a school cafeteria to help kids learn about this healthy and delicious food.
Bay Scallops
Have you ever wondered how a mollusk like a scallop can move around? Well, while they might not have fins or a tail, bay scallops can “swim” backward to get away from danger. When threatened, they contract and relax their large adductor muscle to open and close their shells. This shoots out water, which propels the scallop up off the ocean floor and away from danger.
Catfish
Speaking of unexpected travel, there are a lot of different species of catfish (nearly 2,900!) but you might be surprised to find out one can walk. Native to Southeast Asia, naturally, it’s called the walking catfish. It can use its pectoral fins to keep it upright and wiggle across land with a snakelike motion to travel across land to find new ponds, swamps, and streams to live in.
Cod
Cod is an important predator in the Atlantic Ocean, eating everything from haddock, mollusks, crab, squid, and even other cod. While they’re slow swimmers, they avoid other marine predators, like sharks, by swimming in schools. Because of this, humans are really the only real predator cod have to worry about.
Flounder
Flounder live on the bottom of the ocean, blending into the ocean floor thanks to their wide, flat bodies. What people don’t always realize is that they’re laying on their side, not their stomach. That’s because both of a flounder’s eyes are on the side of its head, not the top.
Haddock
A member of the cod family, haddock is one of New England’s most popular fish for classic dishes. This is due to its mildly sweet taste and flaky flesh, plus the fact that it’s available year-round. Federal and Massachusetts regulations ensure that haddock is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested.
Perch
Yellow perch are known to travel in schools of 50 to 200 fish, usually in a spindle shape arranged by size and age. This keeps them safe from predators, including birds like the common loon and eagles.
Pollock
Pollock has a mild flavor making it an extremely versatile fish. It’s often used in recipes to replace haddock and cod when their numbers are low.
Shrimp
If you’re looking to improve your health and diet, shrimp are full of antioxidants. They contain astaxanthin, which helps prevent wrinkles and sun damage. Some studies suggest the mineral selenium, which is abundant in shrimp, can help prevent certain types of cancer.
Sole
Sole look very similar to flounder, as they are both flat fish, but are actually not related. The easiest way to tell the difference between a sole and a flounder is the eyes. Flounder have both eyes on one side of their head, while sole have one eye on each side.
Whiting
Whiting is part of the Gadidae family, which includes pollock, haddock, and cod. If you want to tell if you’re looking at a whiting, check for a dark spot near the pectoral fin on either side of its body. This feature is distinct to the whiting.
As you serve up some delicious fish dishes to students, consider finding ways to expand their minds and teach them about fish. Fun and interesting fish facts might inspire students of all ages to pursue a career in fishing, marine biology, or even nutrition!
