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1. Why Do Fish
Die If They
Are Out Of The
Water?
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2. Why Do Fish Die If They
Are Out Of The Water?
Like all other living creatures, fish too
need oxygen to breathe. Fish get their
supply of oxygen from water. They take
water into their mouths which passes
through its gills. A fish's gills work only
in water. This is why most fish die when
they are out of water for long.
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3. Why Do Fish Die If They
Are Out Of The Water?
Water flows out
Water flows in
When water passes through the fish's
gills, it absorbs oxygen from the water
and replaces it with carbon dioxide from
the fish's bloodstream. The water flows
out under the gill's cover and this pro-
cess is repeated.
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4. Why Do Fish Die If They
Are Out Of The Water?
SOME FISH CAN LIVE EVEN WHEN THEY
ARE NOT IN WATER
Mudskipper: A mud-
skipper can take in
oxygen from the air
through its gills and skin when not
in water.
Climbing Perch: This fish can breathe in
water as well as in air. It uses its tail to
help it walk on dry land for short periodsb
of time.
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5. Why Do Fish Die If They
Are Out Of The Water?
Lungfish:
A lungfish digs a
hole in the mud
and enters it and
breathes air using
its lungs. This
usually happens in
the dry season
where there is not
enough water.
Snakehead: Is found in Africa and Asia,
has chambers near its gills meant for
breathing. A snakehead can survive for
long periods out of the water and also
hibernates in mud during the summers.
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6. Why Do Fish Die If They
Are Out Of The Water?
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Most fish have four gills in a chamber on
each side of their heads. Each gill con-
tains numerous gill filaments that can
take oxygen from the water into the
bloodstream. In turn, they remove
carbon dioxide from the blood and expel
it into the water.
Snakehead
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7. Why Do Fish Die If They
Are Out Of The Water?
PROJECT
Even though fish breathe mostly in
water, visit your nearest aquarium shop
to see how every once in a while, fish
come out of the water to breathe.
Name 5 mammals that can breathe in
water as well as on land.
The African and South African lungfish
are unusual because they breathe through
their lungs and do not have gills. If they
are held underwater, they will drown.
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