L2 External Anatomy of Fish

Question 1

What does mouth morphology tell us about feeding habitat

Answer 1

Inferior : benthic feeding
Subterminal : feeding on benthic species
Terminal : predatory fish
Superior : living on bottom and prey above

Question 2

Describe major body forms

Answer 2

Fusiform : tuna like, bullet/hydrodynamic
Compressiform: laterally compressed
Depressiform: dorsoventrally compressed

Question 3

Specialized body types: globiform

Answer 3

Globe like - lumpsucker

Question 4

Specialized body types : sagittiform

Answer 4

pike

Question 5

Specialized body type: anguilliform and filiform

Answer 5

eel and snipe eel

Question 6

Specialized body type: Taeniform

Answer 6

laterally compressed pike - gunnel

Question 7

Which class has an adipose fin

Answer 7

Soft rayed fish, not spiny rayed fish

Question 8

Compare a heterocercal, homocercal, and isocercal

Answer 8

Hetero: lower portion not well supported, asymm visually
Homo: appears symmetrical but skeletal still supports upper
Iso: appears symmetrical

Question 9

Name caudal fin shapes

Answer 9

Rounded : high powered but lots of drag, burst swimming
Truncate
Emarginate
Forked
Lunate : tuna, fast like propeller

Question 10

Name pelvic fin positioning from most anterior to posterior

Answer 10

Jugular, thoracic, subabdominal, abdominal

Question 11

Specialized pectoral fins

Answer 11

Muscular: walking
Hatchet fish: good jumpers, large pectoral musculature for driving a jump
Sensory fins for scanning bottom
Frog fish: pectoral for locomotion
Flying fish: wing like pectoral fins