Can you tell me about fish broadly?

How they live , types,nutrition facts, habitat, life span, etc.But please not too detailed.

Thanks.

You see the trouble is that I am from Gloucester, Massachusetts where the main industry is fishing. Even in our own little Gulf of Maine there are so many different species of fish with different habitats and life styles that I would not know where to start (there is a famous book by a man named Bigelow about them), and that does not count the fresh water ones in the streams and ponds and the in between ones like alewives and blue back herring that come in from the ocean to streams or ponds to spawn. Some fish eat tiny larvae and plankton and algae. Some eat shellfish (striped bass and cod in particular have a hankering for little lobsters). Many eat smaller fish or in the case of slime eels (hagfish) for example, eat larger fish from the inside out. Some like flounders often live on flat bottom and some like cod and haddock tend to be found around ledges. Some like herring and mackerel and tuna roam around the bleak ocean (pelagics) while others tend to hang around specific areas toward the bottom. Some like warm water and some like cold water.

So you see you have to be much more specific about what kind of fish and where.

Here is a link to the original Bigelow report. This is only about the Gulf of Maine off MA, NH, ME, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia of course but is official and has everything you could possibly need. Or at least it has everything I need to know:

http://www.gma.org/fogm/

Certainly! Fish are a diverse group of aquatic vertebrates that live in water, ranging from freshwater to saltwater environments. They have gills to extract oxygen from the water, and most fish are ectothermic, meaning their body temperature matches their surroundings.

There are thousands of species of fish, but broadly they can be classified into three main types: cartilaginous fish (such as sharks and rays), bony fish (such as bass and salmon), and jawless fish (such as lampreys and hagfish).

Fish have a wide variety of diets, ranging from herbivorous fish that eat plants and algae, to carnivorous fish that eat other fish or invertebrates. Some fish are omnivorous, consuming both plants and animals.

Fish are found in various habitats, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and even underground caves. Their habitats are often influenced by factors such as water temperature, salinity, and food availability.

The life span of fish varies significantly based on species and environmental factors. Some small fish may only live for a few years, while larger species can live for decades. The lifespan of fish can also be influenced by factors such as predation, disease, and changes in their habitat.

In terms of nutritional facts, fish are a valuable source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. They are low in saturated fats and high in essential nutrients such as vitamin D and calcium. However, it's important to note that some fish species may contain higher levels of mercury or other environmental contaminants, so it's advisable to consume fish in moderation and choose species that are low in mercury.

To explore more specific details about fish, such as different fish species, their feeding habits, or specific habitat preferences, you can refer to reliable sources like books, scientific journals, or reputable websites specializing in aquatic biology or ichthyology.