Fish Practical Flashcards
Petromyzontiformes
Lampreys
No paired fins
Long dorsal fin continuous with caudal fin
No ventral fin anterior to anus
No barbels
7 pairs of gill openings
Larval form: ammocoetes

Myxiniformes
Hagfish** & **Slime hags
No paired fins
Ventral fin anterior to anus present
Barbels present
External gill slits ~14

Squaliformes
Sharks
Placoid scales
Heterocercal tail
Spiracle present

Rajiformes
Skates** & **Rays
Dorsoventrally flattened
Spiracle functions in respiration
Skates: thick tail; Rays: whiplike tail
Males have claspers

Chimaeriformes
Chimaeras** or **Ratfish**, **Rabbitfish
Beaklike jaw/tooth plates
Tail long and thin
Locomation by large pectoral fins
Single external gill opening with opercular flap
Ugly

Amocoetes larva
Lampreys
Dipnoi
Lungfish
Paired fins
Diphycercal tail

Polypteriformes
Bichirs** & **Reed fish
Dorsal finlets; fleshy base to pectoral fin
Ganoid scales: tough, heavy

Polyodontidae
Paddlefish
Elongated & flattened rostrum (nose), 1/3 length
Skin essentially naked (i.e., no scales) except at caudal peduncle

Acipenseridae
Stergeon
Bony plate along sides as “armor”
Barbels present
Heterocercal tail
Ducklike snout
Source of caviar

Lepisosteidae
Gars** or **Garpikes
Ganoid scales
Elongate cylindrical body; elongate snout
Anal & dorsal fins well back on body
Sit & wait predators

Amiidae
Bowfin
Cycloid scales
“Eye spot” on caudal fin; asymmetric
Long dorsal fin

Anguillidae
Common eels
Has pectoral fins (lamphrey & hagfish do not)
Pelvic fins absent; snake-like form
Scales minute & imbedded

Clupeiformes
Herring**, **shad**, **menhadden**, **alewives
Body latterally compressed; forked tail; head lack scales; no adipose fin
Ventral scales keeled, giving “sawtooth fringe”

Salmonidae
Salmon**, **trout**, **whitefish
Adipose fin; forked tail
Pelvic fins with axillary process
No barbels

Osmeridae
Smelt
Adipose fin; forked tail
Pelvic fins without axillary process
No barbels
Slender; silvery

Esocidae
Pike**, **pickerel**, **muskie
Long cylindrical body
Single, soft dorsal & anal fin well back on body
Prominent ducklike jaw; numerous teeth
No adipose fin

Catosomidae
Suckers
Soft-rayed
Modified anal fin
Mouth sucker-like, upward
Thick lips

Cyprinidae
Minnows, Carp, Goldfish
Soft-rayed
Mouth not sucker-like, downward
Thin-lips
No adipose fin

Ictaluridae
Catfish
Adipose fin present
Head broad, flat
Barbels obvious
Without scales
Websterian apparatus (ear bone)

Exocetidae
Flying fish
Pectoral fins large
Lateral line (hairs to detect current) low on body

Cyprinodontidae
Killfish
Ovoparous, lay eggs
Mouth, upward

Poeciliidae
Mollies, Guppies, Swordtails, Mosquitofish
Viviparous, live birth
Males, gonopodium for copulation

Gadidae
Cod, Haddock, Pollock
1 Barbel, chin
3 Dorsal fins

Gasterosteiformes
Sticklebacks
3-16 spines anterior to dorsal fin
Mouth, upward
Pelvic fin w/ 1 spine
Caudal peduncle, narrow

Syngnathidae
Seahorse**, **pipefish
Boney plates, lack scales
Pipefish are elongate
Tail grasping

Centrarchidae
Sunfish**, **bass
Dorsal fin, 5-13 spines
Joined, spinous anterior/soft posterior fins
Body, laterally compressed

Percidae
Perch**, **darters
Separate, spinous anterior/soft posterior fins

Scombridae
Mackerel**, **tuna
2 dorsal fins
Finlets, posterior to dorsal & anal fins
Deeply forked tail
Cycloid scales

Cottidae
Sculpins
2 dorsal fins
Body, broad
Head, flattened
Pectoral fins, large
Eyes, close together on top of head
Suborbital stay sheek spikes

Tetraodontiformes
Puffers
Teeth, fused into beak
Body, globular to triangular

Pleuronectidae
Right-eyed flounder
Eyes, right-sided
Dorsal & anal fins far from caudal

Solidae
Sole
Eyes, right-sided
Dorsal & anal fins close to caudal

Bothidae
Left-eyed flounder
Eyes, left-sided

Lophiformes
Goosefish**, **anglers
First ray of dorsal fin modified into illiculum/esca:line/bait


Ctenoid scale

Cycloid scale

Ganoid**, **rhombic scale

Placoid scale