External Anatomy Flashcards
body shape
- associated with foraging and swimming habits
- many unrelated species will converge on similar body shapes
shape of eel-like fishes
- elongate bodies
- wedge-shaped heads
- rounded tails
- bodies vary from compressed to round
how do eel-like fish use their body and tail?
they use their body and tail in a sigmoidal motion
eel-like fish lifestyle
- live in crevices and holes in reef rocks
- can also be found in open water
examples of eel-like fish
- eels
- Loaches
rover predator shape
- fusiform
- terminal mouth
- fins evenly distributed over the body
- elliptical in cross scetion
rover predator life style
- chases active prey
- often in flowing water
examples of rover predators
- minnows (Leusicidae)
- jacks
- tunas
shape of lie-and-wait predator
- sagittiform - elongate
- flattened head
- large tail
- dorsal and anal fins posterior
lie-in-wait predator life style
motionless for long periods of time and then rapid lunges for prey
examples of lie-in-wait predators
- pikes
- barracuda
- gar
- needlefish
surface skimmer/feeder shape
- head dorso-ventrally flattened
- superior mouth
superior mouth
mouth turned upward
surface skimmer/feeder dorsal fin location
posterior dorsal fin
surface skimmer/feeder lifestyle
- feed at surface
- use thin oxygen-rich layer of water at air/water interface
surface skimmer/feeder examples
- topminnows
- mosquitofish
- flying fish
bottom dweller
rovers
bottom dweller shape
- humped nuchal region
- terminal/subterminal mouth
- large pectoral fins
- barbels and small eyes
bottom dweller lifestyle
move actively along bottom seeking benthic prey, algae, or carrion
bottom dweller examples
- catfish
- suckers
- sturgeon
clingers and hiders shape
- large, flattened heads
- large pectoral fins
- modified pelvic fins
clingers and hiders lifestyle
- live and feed along bottom
- eats mostly invert prey
- high current velocities for some species
clingers and hiders examples
- darters
- clingfish
- sculpins
flatfish life style
rovers or ambush predators
flatfish (Pleuronectiformes) shape
laterally flattened