What is fish?

Fish

A fish is any member of a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic craniate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups. Most fish are ectothermic ("cold-blooded"), allowing their body temperatures to vary as ambient temperatures change, though some of the large active swimmers like white shark and tuna can hold a higher core temperature. Fish are abundant in most bodies of water. They can be found in nearly all aquatic environments, from high mountain streams (e.g., char and gudgeon) to the abyssal and even hadal depths of the deepest oceans (e.g., gulpers and anglerfish). At 32,000 species, fish exhibit greater species diversity than any other group of vertebrates.

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Famous quotes containing the word fish:

    Salerio. Why, I am sure if he forfeit thou wilt not take his flesh. What’s that good for?
    Shylock. To bait fish withal—if it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge.
    William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

    The fish in neighboring streams and lakes are so voracious, it is said, that fishermen have to stand out of sight behind trees while baiting their hooks.
    —For the State of Florida, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)

    I want everybody to come and have some fish and chips with King Gypo.
    Dudley Nichols (1895–1960)