Fish Identification Labs 8-12

A Comprehensive collection of vocabulary flashcards covering fish species, scientific names, and their defining physical characteristics as presented in Labs 8 through 12.

Atherinops affinis (Topsmelt)

Dorsal fins are close together.

Atherinopsis californiensis (Jacksmelt)

Dorsal fins are far apart.

Gambusia affinis (Western Mosquitofish)

Small teardrop like streak bellow eye.

Trachurus symmetricus (Jackmackerel)

Curved/stitched lateral line.

Citharichthys sordidus (Pacific Sanddab)

Pectoral reaches eye.

Citharichthys stigmaeus (Speckled Sanddab)

Pectoral cannot reach eye.

Paralichthys californicus (California Halibut)

Hooked jaw/lateral line has an arch.

Hippoglossus stenolepis (Pacific Hailibut)

No hook in jaw/ arch in the lateral line.

Atheresthes stomias (Arrowtooth Flounder)

Large teeth+mouth/ eye visible from the blind side.

Eopsetta jordani (Petrale Sole)

Large teeth/eye not visible from blind side.

Glyptocephalus zachirus (Rex Sole)

Long black tipped pectoral fin.

Platichthys stellatus (Starry Flounder)

Black bonds on fins.

Lyopsetta exilis (Slender sole)

Slender body + hook on jaw.

Pleuronichthys coenosus (C-O Turbot)

Googly eyes/ dorsal rays on blind side don’t reach mouth.

Pleuronichthys decurrens (Curlfin Turbot)

Googly eye/ dorsal ray on blind side reaches mouth.

Parophrys vetulus (English Sole)

Their eye is visible from blindside + pointed snout.

Psettichthys melanostictus (Sand Sole)

First $3$ dorsal rays are free.

Microstomus pacificus (Dover Sole)

Tiny mouth/ rounded pectoral fin.

Syngnathus leptorhynchus (Bay Pipefish)

Tubular body/ round caudal fin.

Thunnus alalunga (Albacore)

Long pectoral fin.

Ammodytes hexapterus (Pacific Sandlance)

No pelvic fin/ pointed snout.

Percina caprodes (Northern Logperch)

Vertical bars/ subterminal mouth.

Percina flavescens (Yellow Perch)

Vertical bars/ Terminal mouth.

Archoplites interruptus (Sacramento Perch)

Looks like a bass/ $3$ anal fin spines.

Lepomis cyanellus (Green Sunfish)

Large mouth/ spot on dorsal and anal fin.

Lepomis gulosus (Warmouth)

Large mouth/ stripes radiating from eye.

Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill)

Small mouth/spot by operculum and dorsal fin.

Lepomis microlophus (Redear Sunfish)

Small mouth/ no spots.

Micropterus dolomieu (Smallmouth Bass)

Small mouth/ no lateral stripe.

Micropterus punctulatus (Spotted Bass)

Small mouth/lateral band present/ $10$ dorsal spines.

Microstomus salmoides (Largemouth Bass)

Large mouth/lateral band present/ $9$ dorsal fins.

Pomoxis nigromaculatus (Black Crappie)

Length of the dorsal fin = length of eye to dorsal fin.

Pomoxis annularis (White Crappie)

Dorsal fin length is shorter than the eye to dorsal fin length.

Sebastes auriculatus (Brown Rockfish)

Light brown/black spot on operculum.

Sebastes carnatus (Gopher Rockfish)

$6$ spots between lateral line and dorsal fin.

Sebastes caurinus (Copper Rockfish)

$\frac{3}{4}$ of lateral line is clear/ copper color.

Sebastes maliger (Quillback Rockfish)

lateral line doesn't extend into body.

Sebastes serranoides (Olive Rockfish)

Elongated/ spots on their back/ short spines on dorsal.

Sebastes chrysomelas (Black and Yellow Rockfish)

Deeply insized dorsal spines.

Sebastes nebulosus (China Rockfish)

Speckles on body.

Sebastes melanops (Black Rockfish)

Larger mouth than blue/ rounded anal fin.

Sebastes mystinus (Blue Rockfish)

Smaller mouth/ perpendicular anal fin.

Sebastes diaconus (Deacon Rockfish)

Doesn't have sploches.

Sebastes miniatus (Vermilion Rockfish)

Bright red orange/ posterior line clear.

Sebastes pinniger (Canary Rockfish)

Grey lateral line/ orange.

Sebastes ruberrimus (Yelloweye Rockfish)

Longest living ($118$)/ orange asf+ yellow eyes.

Cebidichthys violaceus (Monkeyface Prickleback)

Lumpy head/large pectorals/ no anal fin spine.

Xiphister atropurpureus (Black Prickleback)

Small pectorals/ no anal fin spine.

Apodichthys flavidus (Penpoint Gunnel)

No pelvic fins/ large pectorals/ concave anal fin spine.

Apodichthys fucorum (Rockweed Gunnel)

Small pectorals/ round anal fin.

Pholis ornata (Saddleback Gunnel)

Saddle like markings/ pelvic fins present.

Anarhichadidae ocellatus (Wolf-eel)

Long body/eye spot marks/ large canines.

Aulorhynchus flavidus (Tubesnout)

Long body/forked caudal fin.

Gasterosteus aculeatus (Threespine Stickleback)

$3$ isolated dorsal spines.

Blepsias cirrhosus (Silverspotted Sculpin)

Crown dorsal fin/ silver spots.

Bothragonus swanii (Rockhead Poacher)

Cranial pit on head.

Pallasina barbata (Tubenose Poacher)

Barbel on lower jaw + no prickles/ tubelike mouth.

Stellerina xyosterna (Prickle Poacher)

Barbels at end of maxilla/ prickles.

Anoplopoma fimbria (Sablefish)

$2$ far apart dorsal fins/ no spots/ no cirri.

Hexagrammos decagrammus (Kelp Greenling)

$5$ lateral lines/ $2$ cirri on head.

Hexagrammos lagocephalus (Rock Greenling)

$5$ lateral lines/ $1$ pair of cirri.

Ophiodon elongatus (Lingcod)

$2$ dorsal fins close together + spots/ $1$ lateral line.

Artedius fenestralis (Padded Sculpin)

Dorsal band of scales.

Ascelichthys rhodorus (Rosylip Sculpin)

No pelvic fins.

Clinocottus acuticeps (Sharpnose Sculpin)

Pointed snout/ anus between fins.

Clinocottus globiceps (Mosshead Sculpin)

Big fat head/covered in ciri.

Oligocottus maculosus (Tidepool Sculpin)

Large unbranched pre-opercular spine.

Oligocottus snyderi (Fluffy Sculpin)

Ciri above lateral line/ anus near anal fin.

Enophrys bison (Buffalo Sculpin)

Unbranched horns.

Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus (Red Irish Lord)

$3$ bands of scales (dorsal/lateral/ventral).

Leptocottus armatus (Pacific Staghorn Sculpin)

Branched pre-opercular spine/ black spot on dorsal.

Scorpaenichthys marmoratus (Cabezon)

Ciri on snout/ no scales.

Cottus asper (Prickly Sculpin)

Complete lateral line/ $16-19$ anal fin rays.

Cottus aleuticus (Coastrange Sculpin)

Complete lateral line/ dorsal fins look more seperated.

Cottus klamathensis (Marbled Sculpin)

Incomplete lateral line/ no separation of dorsal fins.

Morone saxatilis (Stripped bass)

$6-9$ lateral lines.

Genyonemus lineatus (White Croaker)

Subterminal mouth/ spot at pectoral fin base.

Mola mola (Mola)

Bridge tail/cool.

Liparis pulchellus (Showy Snailfish)

Sucking disk/tapering tail.

Liparis adiastolus (Rosybrown Snailfish)

Sucking disk/ distinct tail.