Lauren's+Anglerfish






 * 1 || 1 Roll of Rigid Wrap Plaster Cloth (8" by 180") ||
 * 2 || Water (supply more as needed) ||
 * 3 || 1 Shallow, Rectangular Plastic Dish/Bowl ||
 * 4 || Balloons ||
 * 5 || Cardboard Box ||
 * 6 || 1 can of Spray Paint (Georgia Clay) ||
 * 7 || Scissors ||
 * 8 || Duct Tape ||
 * 9 || 1 Square of Self-Adhesive Black Felt (6" by 6") ||
 * 10 || 1 Square of Off-White Felt (6" by 6") ||
 * 11 || Fabric Glue ||
 * 12 || Book Light ||
 * 13 || Sharpie or Marker (Color is irrelevant) ||



In this paper, you will discover how to create a plaster model of an anglerfish. I will inform you of all the instructions and tips. Before you start, make sure that you are supplied with all the needed materials. A list of those materials can be found on this page. Most of these can be found at a craft store, a dollar store or even around the house. Then you are ready to start!

First, you need to open the roll of plaster cloth. Vertically cut 12-15 1 inch strips to begin with. Then cut each strip in half. This should make each strip about1” by 4”. Next you should blow up the balloon until it is around 12 inches long or to a size you find suitable. Now you will need your piece of cardboard and pair of scissors. Use your maker to trace shape on to the cardboard that you will use as the anglerfish’s tail. This should take up only half of the cardboard vertically. Next fold the piece of cardboard in two and cut out the tail that way so that both sides are even. Now you need to unfold the tail. At the crease line, make a slit half way down. Then slide the knot of the tied balloon into the slit. Afterwards, use a piece of duct tape to secure the tail to the body. This process will hold the two together until you use the plaster.

Now is when your plaster strips will come in handy. Fill up your dish or bowl with warm water. Dip one strip at a time into the water and place them on the balloon and tail. Use your marker to draw a spot for the mouth so that you will be able to insert it later. Try not to overlap strips because this will make the surface uneven. If you run out of strips before you cover the balloon, cut out some more the same size as before or as needed to fill blank spots. Let this dry for at least 1 hour. Once it is dry, feel around gently for any weak spots. Cover it up with plaster strips and let it dry overnight so you can spray paint in the morning. (Be sure not to pour the plaster water down your sink!)

After your plaster fish is completely dry, use your scissors to pop the balloon. Then cut a hole in the top big enough for your book light to fit through. Use duct tape to secure the light to the inside of the fish. Then cover the light with something so that you can begin to spray paint. Go outside and set up an area to spray paint (after it is approved by a parental guardian). Depending on where you have chosen to paint, you might have to set newspaper underneath your fish. Once you are all set up, begin to shake your can of spray paint. Do this for 2-3 minutes so that the paint is shaken up thoroughly. Then follow the directions on the back of the can and begin to paint! (Wait 24 hours and add a second coat.)

Now I will teach you how to create the mouth. First you need to get a second piece of cardboard and cut a circle about the size of the hole left for the mouth. Then cut a circle out of the black felt that is slightly bigger than the cardboard circle. Peel the backing off of the black felt and stick it to the cardboard being sure that none is showing. Now cut small teeth-like triangles out of the off-white felt. Use the fabric glue to stick them to the black felt, going in a circle until the whole circumference is covered. Now fold the circle in half and you now have a mouth!

Finally, insert the mouth into your fish. You can do this by shaping the pre-cut hole for the mouth until it matches the size of the felt mouth. Do not glue or tape the mouth. Inserting and removing the mouth is how you will be able to turn the light on and off. Now sit back and admire your work! Relax or take a nap! You have created an ANGLERFISH!











The Under-Water Flashlight Anglerfish are very interesting creatures. They have unique features which allow them to survive at the dark depths of the ocean bottom. The extreme conditions of the environment they inhabit, call for special survival tactics. Most anglerfish live deep beneath the sea’s surface or at the bottom of the ocean floor. It depends on if that species is benthic (bottom-dwelling). The depth at which some anglerfish live is 3,000 feet, but some anglerfish may also live in habitats that are tropical and shallow, although not many do. Anglerfish have a length range that extends from 8 inches to 3 feet and they can weigh up to 110 pounds- that’s big! They also have a shining light sprouting from their head. The sea is full of surprises! The growth that sprouts from the anglerfish’s head is called an illicium. The illicium has an esca on the end of it, which is that part that actually lights up. Together, the illicium and the esca are like a flashlight. These two things are a very important part of an anglerfish, because this is what they use to attract their prey. Fins wiggling, a fish spots the shining light and think that it is their prey. When they prey gets close enough, the angler fish traps it in its mouth. The unsuspecting fish cannot escape because the anglerfish’s teeth are angled into its mouth which prevents the fish from backing out. Attracting prey is the number one reason anglerfish have the unique ability to light up! Bioluminescence is what makes anglerfish glow. A bacterium that is bioluminescent gathers in the same spot (the esca) and creates a glow. Only female anglerfish have a shining esca. This is most likely because once male anglerfish become adults they latch to females and live the rest of their life there. Since the males feed off of the females, this means they have no need for a bioluminescent bacterium which is only used for attracting prey. The reason that anglerfish, one of the few glowing species of fish, exist today is because of bioluminescence.

Bibliography

Websites: [] [] [] [] [] Books: Vogel, Carole. Ocean Wildlife. Toronto: Scholastic, 2003