If you ask, "What are puppy puppies called?" or "What are piglets called?", most people can immediately answer: puppy, piglet. But if the question is changed to, "What are fish fry called when they are born? And what are they called in their initial growth stages?", many people might be at a loss for words. Actually, fish larvae also have a specific name, but we rarely use it in daily life and therefore easily forget it. This article will detail the scientific name of fish larvae, their reproductive methods, and the meaning of "fish fry (alevín)."
What are fish?
Fish are a large group of aquatic vertebrates. Their bodies are generally covered with scales, they swim using fins , and breathe using gills . The gills function similarly to the lungs of mammals, extracting dissolved oxygen from the water.
The variety of fish species is extremely rich:
There are species that live in freshwater lakes and rivers (such as carp and trout);
There are also fish that inhabit saltwater oceans (such as tuna and sharks).
They vary greatly in size, ranging from miniature ornamental fish in tropical waters to sharks and tuna that are several meters long.
Therefore, fish are not a single species, but a large and diverse group of animals.
Fish Reproduction Methods
Fish reproduce in various ways, which can be divided into three main types:
1. Viviparous (vivípara)
Fertilization occurs inside the female fish, resulting in the direct birth of live fry. The fry are born with a degree of independence. This method is relatively rare among fish, but is common in sharks and rays .
2. Ovoviviparous (ovovivípara)
Fertilization still occurs inside the female fish, but instead of releasing a fully formed larva, the female releases a fertilized egg still in its shell . The egg partially develops inside the mother's body, hatches, and is then released. This process is relatively rare among marine fish.
3. Oviparous (ovípara)
This is the most common reproductive method for fish. The female lays her eggs in the external water, and the male then releases sperm to cover the eggs, completing external fertilization. The fertilized eggs then continue to develop in the water until they hatch into larvae. Most common freshwater and saltwater fish belong to this category.
What are fish fry called?
Regardless of the reproductive method fish use, fish fry are scientifically referred to by a unified name: fish fry (Spanish: alevín) .
"Fish fry" refers to the stage of fish growth from when they leave their eggshell or mother until they are not yet fully mature and can no longer reproduce.
At this stage, the fish are small and their body tissues are not yet fully developed, but they are already able to feed and swim independently.
In some cases, "fish fry" can even refer to embryos that are about to hatch, but whose fish-like shape can already be clearly seen in the egg.
In other words, any fish larva, whether salmon, carp, or shark, can be called a "fish fry".
Why are only fish fry collectively referred to as "fish seedlings"?
In language usage, many animal cubs have specific names:
Horse → Colt (foal)
Dog → Puppy/Little Dog
Rabbit → Baby rabbit / Nest rabbit
Pig → Piglet
However, all fish, regardless of species, are uniformly referred to as "fish fry." This is not because fish are biologically indistinguishable, but rather a result of language evolution :
We create more specific names for animals that are closely related to human daily life.
Fish live in water and have relatively little interaction with humans, so in spoken language they are only referred to by a general term.
Summarize
Fish fry, after birth or hatching, are collectively referred to as fry . This term does not distinguish between specific species but encompasses all fish larvae from hatching to immaturity. Although the term is simple and uniform in language, biologically, the morphology and habits of fry vary greatly from species to species.
Therefore, the next time you talk about fish breeding, if someone asks, "What are baby fish called?", you can confidently answer: fry!
