Sixth Grade
Worksheets
Porcupine Fish
Some fish are kept as pets. They may be beautiful to look at. Some fish are eaten for food. Some fish get our attention because they are very large. Some may even be dangerous! The porcupine fish is unusual because of its strange body.
Most fish are covered with scales. But on the outside of the porcupine fish, it has needle-like spines. The fish gets its name for these spines that make it look like a porcupine.
When threatened, a porcupine fish swallows water to make its body round like a ball. Even when it is out of the water, it can still inflate its body by swallowing air instead. When inflated, the spines stick out. At other times, the spines lay flat against the fish's body.
