Why do fish have scales?
Fish have scales to protect their bodies, like a coat of tiny shields.
Pip’s answer
- Fish have scales to protect their bodies, like a coat of tiny shields.
- The scales line up like roof tiles, so the fish can still bend and wiggle.
- A slippery coat on the scales helps fish swoosh through water!
- Wow, some fish scales have rings, like trees, that grow as the fish grows!
For grown-ups
Scales are thin, overlapping plates that protect a fish from injury and parasites while still letting it bend. Many fish are also covered in slippery mucus that reduces drag and fights infection. Some scales grow rings each year, a bit like tree rings, which can show a fish's age.
Ask your child: How do you think a fish feels if you could touch its scales gently?
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