Mouth

Mouth - at the front of the fish, the mouth is used to take food and water into the body for nourishment and breathing.

Mouth position varies a lot in fishes, but there are three primary placements, that can tell you something about the natural history of the fish.

Mouths that are turned upward, such as in the guppy, allow fish to take food more easily from the surface of the water.

Mouths that are directly at the forward end of the body indicate a fish that feeds midwater, or at least eats things that have come down in front of it. Many fishes that feed primarily on other fishes have this mouth position.

Downward turned mouths, such as those of most catfishes allow fishes to easily pick food from the bottom, or at least below them. Many scavengers and bottom feeders have their mouths in this position.

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