Fish Taxonomy

Question 1

Hagfish

Answer 1

Class Myxini, Order Myxiniformes

• Barbels present
• Rudimentary eyes
• Inconspicious mouth

Question 2

Lampreys

Answer 2

Class Petromyzontoidea, Order Petromyzontiformes

• Large eyes
• No barbels
• 7 gill openings, 7 pairs of gills
• Single median nostril
• Ammocoete larval stage

Question 3

Sharks

Answer 3

Class Chondrichthyes, Subclass Elasmobranchii, Order Squaliformes

• Heterocercal tail
• Spiracle (reduced, rounded gill slit anterior to other gill slits)
• Males have claspers on pelvic fins

Question 4

Skates, Rays

Answer 4

Class Chondrichthyes, Subclass Elasmobranchii, Order Rajiformes

• Dorsoventrally flattened
• Eyes on top of head

Question 5

Chimaeras, Rabbitfish

Answer 5

Class Chondrichthyes, Subclass Holocephali, Order Chimaeriformes

• Beak-like tooth plates
• Long, thin tail - locomotion by pectoral fins

Question 6

Lungfish

Answer 6

Class Sarcopterygii, Subclass Dipnoi

• Diphycercal tail (triangular)
• Fleshy paired fins
• May aestivate

Question 7

Bichirs and Reed Fish

Answer 7

Class Actinopterygii, Order Polypteriformes

• Dorsal finlets
• Fleshy base to pectoral fin
• Ganoid scales

Question 8

Paddlefish

Answer 8

Order Acipenseriformes, Family Polyodontidae

• Elongated, flattened rostrum
• No scales

Question 9

Sturgeon

Answer 9

Order Acipenseriformes, Family Acipenseridae

• Bony plates along sides
• Heterocercal tail
• Ducklike snout

Question 10

Gars

Answer 10

Order Lepisosteiiformes, Family Lepisosteidae

• Ganoid scales
• Elongate snout

Question 11

Bowfin

Answer 11

Order Amiiformes, Family Amiidae

• “Eyespot” on caudal fin
• Long dorsal fin
• Caudal fin somewhat asymmetric

Question 12

Eels

Answer 12

Order Anguilliformes, Family Anguillidae

• Pectoral fins present
• Larval form leptocephalus

Question 13

Herring, Shad, Alewives

Answer 13

Order Clupeiformes, Family Clupeidae

• No adipose fin
• Ventral scales keeled - “sawtooth fringe” to belly

Question 14

Salmon, Trout, Whitefish

Answer 14

Order Salmoniformes, Family Salmonidae

• Adipose fin
• Axillary process

Question 15

Smelt

Answer 15

Order Salmoniformes, Family Osmeridae

• Adipose fin
• Forked tail
• No barbels

Question 16

Pike

Answer 16

Order Salmoniformes, Family Esocidae

• Dorsal and anal fin well back on body
• Prominent jaws, duck-bill shaped

Question 17

Coelacanth

Answer 17

Class Sarcopterygii, Subclass Actinistia

• 2 dorsal, 2 pelvic fins
• 3-lobed caudal fin

Question 18

Suckers

Answer 18

Order Cypriniformes, Family Catostomidae

• Mouth ventrally oriented

Question 19

Minnows, Carp, Goldfish

Answer 19

Order Cypriniformes, Family Cyprinidae

• Abdominal pelvic fins
• Toothless (except pharyngeal teeth)
• Mouth not ventrally oriented

Question 20

Catfish

Answer 20

Order Siluriformes, Family Ictaluridade

• Adipose fin
• Broad, flat head
• Numerous barbels

Question 21

Flying Fish

Answer 21

Order Beloniformes, Family Exocetidae

• Large pectoral fins
• Lateral line low on side of body

Question 22

Killifish

Answer 22

Order Cyprinidontiformes, Family Cyprinidontidae

• Oviparous
• Flattened heads
• Mouth tilted upwards
• Third anal ray branched

Question 23

Mollies, Guppies, Swordtails, Mosquitofish

Answer 23

Order Cyprinidontiformes, Family Poecilidae

• Viviparous
• Males have modified anal fin (gonopodium)

Question 24

Cod, Haddock, Pollock

Answer 24

Order Gadiformes, Family Gadidae

• Single, small barbel on chin
• Long dorsal and anal fin, dorsal fin in 2 or 3 sections
• Pelvic fins below or in front of pectorals

Question 25

Sticklebacks

Answer 25

**Order Gasterosteiformes, Family Gasterosteidae** - 3-16 spines anterior to dorsal fin - Upturned mouths, narrow caudal peduncle

Question 26

Seahorses and Pipefish

Answer 26

**Order Gasterosteiformes, Family Syngnathidae** - Pipefish elongate - No scales; bony plates instead

Question 27

Sunfish, Bass

Answer 27

**Order Perciformes, Family Centrarchidae** - Spinous anterior and soft posterior dorsal fins joined

Question 28

Perch and Darters

Answer 28

**Order Perciformes, Family Percidae** - 2 separate dorsal fins, anterior with spikes, posterior soft

Question 29

Mackerel, Tuna

Answer 29

**Order Perciformes, Family Scombridae** - 2 dorsal fins, finlets behind dorsal and anal fins

Question 30

Sculpins

Answer 30

**Order Scorpaeniformes, Family Cottidae** - Flattened head, eyes close together on top of head - Preopercular spine - 2 dorsal fins, large pectorals

Question 31

Puffers

Answer 31

**Order Tetradontiformes** - Scales modified into spines or plates - Teeth fused into beaklike structure

Question 32

Right-eyed Flounder

Answer 32

**Order Pleuronectiformes, Family Pleuronectidae** - Flat, eyes on right side - Large eyes, mouth, pectoral fin - Dorsal and anal fins distinct from caudal

Question 33

Sole

Answer 33

**Order Pleuronectiformes, Family Solidae** - Eyes on right side - Pectoral fins absent or small - Dorsal and anal fins close to caudal

Question 34

Left-eyed Flounder

Answer 34

**Order Pleuronectiformes, Family Bothidae** - Eyes on left side

Question 35

Anglerfish

Answer 35

**Order Lophiformes** - First ray of dorsal transformed into lure