Floating Mechanisms in Ocean Animals

How do small ocean creatures increase water resistance to stay afloat?

• By having flattened bodies and projections

• By swimming very fast all the time

• By storing lots of fat and oil

• By having rigid gas chambers

What do sharks and marine mammals use to help them float better in the ocean?

• Air pockets in their bodies

• Flattened body shapes

• Large amounts of fats and oils

• Constantly swimming

Which of these animals uses rigid gas chambers to help them float?

• Sharks

• Cuttlefish

• Dolphins

• Portuguese man-o'-war

What is a pneumatophore?

• A type of deep-sea fish

• An air pocket that helps an organism float

• A flattened body shape for swimming

• A large, oily liver

How does a fish use its swim bladder to move up and down in the water?

• It fills with water to sink and empties to float.

• It changes color to blend in.

• It fills with gas to float and releases gas to sink.

• It uses its tail to push itself.

What helps some ocean animals float in the upper part of the ocean?

• Strong fins

• Air pockets

• Heavy bones

• Dark skin

Why do some fish in the deep ocean swim up to the surface at night?

• To find a place to sleep.

• To hide from the sun.

• To find food and avoid predators.

• To lay their eggs.

What is true about deep-sea fish that do not swim up and down every day?

• They have strong bones and muscles.

• They have large swim bladders.

• They have soft bodies and weak bones.

• They are very fast swimmers.