Fishes

Fishes

Fish (from the Latin pisces) are primarily aquatic vertebrate animals, generally ectothermic (they regulate their temperature from the environment) and with gill respiration. They are usually covered by scales, and are equipped with fins, which allow their continuous movement in aquatic environments, and gills, with which they capture the oxygen dissolved in the water. The Pisces group is not a taxon because it would be paraphyletic. Fish are abundant in both saltwater and freshwater, and species can be found from mountain streams (goby) as well as deep in the ocean (swallow eels). Food prepared with fish is an important food source for humans. They can be large from wild specimens, or raised similarly to livestock (aquaculture). Today the so-called sport fishing every day becomes a more popular activity. Fish have played an important role in many cultures throughout history, ranging from religious deities to themes in books and movies