The document details the characteristics and behaviors of the French Angelfish (Pomacanthus paru), including its appearance, movement, diet, and potential predators. It also discusses the integration of math into art and science through a classroom project where students create coral reef fish while using mathematical concepts such as measurement and patterns. Emphasis is placed on the importance of record-keeping in nature and the broader application of math in everyday life.

1. My Coral Reef Fish Research Information
Fish: French angelfish (adult) Pomacanthus paru Photo by Wayne Davis EPA
Citation: http://www.epa.gov/bioiweb1/html/coral_reef_fish_angelfishes.html
Name: Blair Thallmayer Cohort: 2

2. 1. Common name: French angelfish,
2. Scientific name of fish: Pomacanthus paru
3. Size (Length): 41.1 cm
4. Size (Width):
5. Basic shape of fish (Rough sketch, then describe):
6. Basic shape of caudal (tail) fine (rough sketch, then describe)
7. Basic shape of dorsal fin (Rough sketch, then describe):
8. Description of skin, scales: Black, the scales of the body, except those at
front from nape to abdomen, rimmed with golden yellow; a broad orange-
yellow bar at pectoral base; dorsal filament yellow; chin whitish; outer part
of iris yellow; eye narrowly rimmed below with blue.
9. Description of coloration: Coloration
The scales on the body are black and rimmed with a bright golden yellow.
There is a broad orange-yellow bar at the base of the pectoral fins and a
yellow filament in the dorsal. The chin appears whitish. Eyes are narrowly
edged in blue with a yellow outer portion of the iris. All fins are black.
Juveniles differ greatly from the adult coloration. The juveniles are
distinguished from the adults with a dark brown to black body with three
thick vertical yellow bands that continue onto the fins. As the juvenile
matures, the scales resemble those of the adult - black with yellow edges -
throughout the body except those near the front of the fish which remain
black. It also loses the vertical yellow bands except for the yellow-orange
bar at the outer base of the pectoral fin. The dorsal filament turns yellow.
10. Describe how your fish moves: can swim backwards They can be aggressive
with others and will quickly become the dominant fish in the tank. often in
pairs; unafraid; often clean parasites from larger fish
11. What does your fish eat? sponges, algae, bryozoans, zoantharians,
gorgonians and tunicates.
What eats your fish? Large fishes are potential predators of the French
angelfish.
12. Citations:
Pomacanthus paru, French Angelfish - MarineBio.org. Retrieved Tuesday,
October 2, 2007, from http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=81.
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/FrenchAngelfish/FrenchAngelf
ish.html

3. Blair Thallmayer Art Exploration 2 November 6, 2007
Math has been referred to as the language of nature. We measure, collect, watch
for patterns, and observe. If the patterns change, we know that nature is trying to tell
us something. It can be a good message or not so good message that maybe we can fix.
The key to the message reading is to keep good records and data so that when a new
message appears, we will notice it.
Students could use math connections to create their coral reef fish for the
classroom. Each student could use math skills such as patterns, counting skills,
measurement, geometry and algebra to determine different areas of creating their fish.
A student could use a graph to organize and measure the number of scales that need to
be drawn onto their fish. Measurement could be used to measure the width, length, area,
etc of the fish. Measurement could also be used to measure the distance between the
different parts of the fish, and to measure the amount of space that is the same one
both sides. Counting skills could be used to count the number of parts the fish has, such
as two eyes, one dorsal fin, one bottom fin, one back fin, one mouth, etc.
Math could also be used as the visual art piece. When mixing paints, the student
needs to know how much drops of each color they are mixing with another to get the
same color more than one. Example: I needed a tannish-honey tone. I would mix one drop
of brown with, 6 drops of white. This is also thought of as science concept because it is
mixing to substances together to create another.
Math is a subject that could be used in any other curriculum area. It is important
for students to understand that Math is not only used in the classroom, but it important
to become good at math to daily life. Example would be completing this fish project by
the due date. Time & dates are another form of math.