All fish have evolved to fill small niches in their environment as a result many adaptations have formed. This is especially true when it comes to feeding adaptations. This enables many different fish to coexist in the same area of without competing with each other.

An Inferior Mouth

The term inferior mouth means her mouth that is situated law than the mid point most bottom feeding fish are inferior mouths this enables them to feed more easily from the ground, up this adaptation prevents leading of the surface

A Terminal Mouth

Most mid water fish have terminal mouths. A terminal mouth is forward pointing and is the most adaptable and least specialised

A Superior Mouth

A superior mouth points upwards this adaptation is associated with fish that live and feed on or near the surface.

These are general adaptations and the vast majority of fish fall into one of these three categories. There are however fish with various adaptations that are very specialised and are found on specialist feeders. These include marine Butterfly fish which have mouths that are very long and pointed and are used to extract and feed on coral polyps.

Butterfly Fish

A specialised coral feeder

Fish that have become so specialised do not make suitable candidates for the aquarium because their needs cannot be fully met.

Suckermouth Catfish

A common adaptation found in a lot of Catfish particularly ones that inhabit fast flowing rivers. Is sucker type a mouth which enables the fish to cling onto stones and other objects to prevent it from being washed it downstream this adaptation also allows the fish to breathe whilst maintaining its grip. This type of mouth is also very efficient at scraping algae from stones although not all these fish are vegetarian as is quite often assumed.

Bushymouthed Whiptail

These fish have developed barbels which they can use to hunt small insects buried in the substrate.

Piranhas

Sharp cutting teeth and powerful jaws allow these fish to bite chunks from their prey.

Sand Tiger Sharks

Quickly overwhelm and kill their large powerful prey.

Photos by: Andy

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