Great for ages 4-18!

The Japanese word for fish printing is “gyotaku” (pronounced, guy-oh-ta-koo), and means fish rubbing (gyo = fish, taku = rubbing). Fish printing is a Japanese art form. It began in Japan over 200 years ago as a way for sport fishermen to record the exact size and species of the fish they had caught. In 1955, the Association of Gyotaku was formed, and the first exhibition was held at the Matsuya Gallery in Ginza, Tokyo. It has since spread to other countries, the first exhibition outside of Japan was in 1956 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Anglers find this art form a fun way to remember fish they’ve caught. We use it as a fun way to learn the parts of a fish.

Fish have certain body parts that make a fish a fish:

• Gills for oxygen exchange (breathing) and the operculum that covers the gills
• Scales that protect them from disease and predators
• Lateral line, which feels vibrations in the water
• Pectoral fins, which are used for steering, maneuvering and stopping, and in some cases for swimming forward
• Dorsal fin and anal fins that work together to keep the fish upright
• Pelvic fins for balance and steering
• The peduncle and caudal fin are the power source
• Eyes that can move independently, but no eyelids
• Nostrils, called nares, for smelling, not for breathing
  

Do you know???

What structures make a fish different from a mammal, reptile or bird?
What does a fish have in common with a mammal, reptile or bird?
What special structure allows fish to live in water?
Which would you group a shark with: barracuda, killer whale, moray eel, or dolphin?
Why is the lateral line important? Where is it located? What is it used for?
Are all fish shaped the same?
Where is a fish’s breathing apparatus located?

This activity meets the following Florida Sunshine State Standards:

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For more information or to register please call (954) 924-4309, fax (954) 924-4333, e-mail or mail to:

IGFA

Attn: Education Department

300 Gulf Stream Way

Dania Beach, FL 33004

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