ECCB 302 Lab Manual - Diversity and Evolution of the Vertebrates Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering chordate subphyla, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals based on the ECCB 302 Lab Manual.

Phylum Chordata

A phylum characterized by: (1) notochord present at some stage in development; (2) single dorsal, hollow nerve cord; (3) pharyngeal pouches and gill slits present at some stage; (4) postanal tail; (5) segmented (metameric) body including myomeres; (6) endostyle; and (7) ventral heart with dorsal and ventral blood vessels forming a closed circulatory system.

Subphylum Urochordata

Marine filter-feeding chordates (tunicates or sea squirts) featuring a basket-like perforated pharynx, branchial (inflow) siphon, atrial (outflow) siphon, simple circulatory and digestive systems, and a notochord well developed in larvae but absent or rudimentary in adults.

Subphylum Cephalochordata

MARINE

Small, superficially eel-like, filter-feeding marine chordates usually less than 5 cm in length, featuring a mouth with buccal cirri and wheel organ, atriopore, an-s, and a notochord extending along the entire body length.

Subphylum Vertebrata

Group of chordates characterized by a cranium enclosing the brain and paired sense organs, a distinct head region, neural crest (4th germ layer), W-shaped myomeres, and a lateral line sensory system.

Cyclostomata

Extant jawless fishes characterized by a single median nostril, pouched gills, a velum in the pharynx, keratinous teeth-like structures supported on a tongue-like structure, and the absence of jaws.

Eptatretus sp.

MARINE

Medium-sized (up to 0.4 meters) eel-like with mouth surrounded by small barbels, eversible lingual plate with keratinous teeth-like structures, depigmented spot eyes, 2–6 external gill pores, and a row of slime pores along the lateral side.

Petromyzon sp.

MARINE AND FRESH

Large (up to 1.2 m) eel-like characterized by a suction cup-like disk with keratinous teeth, 7 pairs of gill pouches, single median nostril not connected to pharynx, and absence of paired fins and scales.

Gnathostomata

Jawed vertebrates characterized by the presence of jaws, typically two pairs of paired appendages (pectoral and pelvic fins/limbs), and three semi-circular canals in the inner ear.

Class Chondrichthyes

Cartilaginous fishes characterized by placoid scales, pelvic claspers in males, calcified cartilage, and ampullae of Lorenzini electrosensory organs on the snout.

Subclass Holocephali

Subclass of cartilaginous fishes (chimaeras, rabbitfishes, and ratfishes) distinguished from Elasmobranchii by a single external gill opening covered by a cartilaginous operculum and teeth modified to form a beak-like structure.

Subclass Elasmobranchii

Subclass of cartilaginous fishes (sharks and rays) distinguished by having 5–7 gill slits and polyphyodont dentition with multiple cohorts of replacement teeth located in the gums simultaneously.

Subdivision Batomorphii

Subgroup of Neoselachii (skates, rays, and relatives) characterized by greatly enlarged pectoral fins fused to the side of the head, absence of an anal fin, and gill slits on the ventral surface of the head.

Osteichthyes

Bony fishes (including tetrapods) characterized by endochondral bone, a gas-filled bladder derived from the alimentary canal, dermal jaw bones (maxilla, premaxilla, dentary), and lepidotrichia (fin rays).

Class Sarcopterygii

Lobe-finned fishes and tetrapods characterized by lobate paired-fins (or limbs) that articulate with the body via a single basal element.

Class Actinopterygii

Ray-finned fishes characterized by branchiostegal rays, an interopercle, acrodine mineralized enamel caps on tooth tips, and typically a single dorsal fin.

Polypterus sp.

FRESHWATER

elongate, cylindrical body

pectoral fins with stalk-like base that is covered in scales

dorsal fin comprising a series of small fin-lets, each with single spinous ray and several soft rays

caudal fin heterocercal

ganoid, interlocking scales- forming armor like barrier

Hydrolagus colliei

MARINE

• Body tapering posteriorly ending with long ribbon-like tail

• Subterminal mouth 

• Pelvic claspers on males only

• Modified teeth form beak-like structure

Sphyrna sp.

MARINE

• Medium to large cartilaginous fishes

• greatly flattened and laterally expanded heads- eyes and nostrils displaced to lateral extreme of head

• nicititating eyelid present

• inferior mouth

• spiracle present

• 5 gill slits

• first dorsal is very large and triangular

Squalus sp.

MARINE

• small cartilaginous fish

• south, moderately elongate body

• NO nictitating eyelid

• inferior mouth

• spiracle present

• 5 gill slits

• heterocercal caudal fin

Raja sp.

MARINE

• medium sized cartilaginous fishes

• extremely flattened and laterally expanded body

• mouth inferior

• spiracle large

• head strongly pointed anteriorly, forming pointed rostrum

• tail shorter than disc

• placoid scales scattered over dorsal surface of disc

• claspers sungular on males

Hypanus sabinus

MARINE

• medium sized cartilaginous fish- extremely flattened and laterally expanded body

• mouth inferior

• large spiracle

• head typically pointed or weakly pointed anteriorly in dorsal view

• pectoral fits greatly enlarged, expanded, and fused to the head forming a disk

• whip-like tale, longer than disc

• pelvic claspers of males singular

Protopterus sp.

FRESHWATER

• Large elongate fish

• thread-like lobate paired fins

• large terminal mouth

• teeth modified into large crushing plates

• mottles pattern of darker brown markings

Scaphirhynchus platorynchus

FRESHWATER

• elongate and robust body

• body surrounded by 5 rows of large bony scutes

• mouth inferior and highly protrusible

• 2 pairs of barbels

• teeth absent

• caudal fin heterocercal

Polyodon spathula

FRESHWATER

• paddle shaped rostrum

• subterminal mouth

• large gill openings

• operculum extends far like a flap

• all fins with soft rays

• caudal fin heterocercal

Atractosteus spatula

FRESHWATER BRACKISH OR MARINE

• terminal mouth

• jaws with numerous needle like teeth

• ganoid scales interlocking forming armor like barrier around the body

• pelvic fins abdominal

• teeth arranged in 2 rows on upper jaw and 1 row on lower jaw

Lepisosteus osseus

FRESHWATER

• mouth terminal

• jaws with numerous large needle like teeth

• teeth arranged in single row on both jaws

• ganoid scales interlocking forming armor-like barrier

• easily distinguished due to greatly elongate snout

Elops saurus

MARINE AND BRACKISH

• elongate body

• mouth large, terminal

• posterior most point of upper jaw extend past eye

• gular plate situated between right and left sides of lower jaw

• body silvery

Amia calva

FRESHWATER

• mouth terminal

• cycloid scales

• large black spots at base of upper rays

• gular plate between right and left sides of lower jaw

3 subphyla of Chordata

• Urochordata

• Cephalochordata

• Vertebrates

Dorosoma cepedianum

FRESHWATER

• deep, heavily compressed eyes

• eyes large-mouth tiny

• scaled cycloid, and easily dislodged

• body generally silvery, dark brown along dorsal surface

• large black spot present in shoulder region

Anchoa mitchilli

MARINE

• subterminal mouth

• slender compressed body

• eyes large - mouth large

• posterior most point of jaws extending well past posterior edge of eye

• large snout

• scales cycloid, deciduous

Otophysi- siluriforme, cypriniformes, characiformes

group characterized by Weberian Apparatus - connection between the inner ear and swim bladder- allows fish to hear

Cyprinella lutrensis

FRESHWATER

• small slender, compressed body

• terminal small mouth

• no barbels

• roughly diamond cycloid scales

• lateral line present along body

• caudal fin homocercal

Cyprinus carpio

FRESHWATER

• deep compressed body

• upper jaw with two pairs of barbels

• large cycloid scales

• long dorsal fin

Ictalurus punctatus

FRESHWATER

• broad flattened head

• inferior mouth

• 4 pairs of well-developed barbels

• body without scales

• dorsal and pectoral fins with large serrated spines

Astyanax argentatus

FRESHWATER

• mouth terminal

• jaws with sharp pointed incisors

• caudal fin homocercal

• black midlateral stripe extends to caudal fin

Gambusia affinis

FRESHWATER AND BRACKISH

• short rounded body

• superior mouth

• scales large and cycloid

• no lateral line

• caudal fine homocercal

Hippocampus erectus

MARINE

• body encased in series of bony rings

• mouth small, terminal, at end of short tube-like snout

• no caudal fin

• small fish, unmistakable body shape

Sygnathus scovelli

MARINE

• small elongate fish, encased in series of bony rings

• mouth terminal, tiny, located at time of long tube-like snout

• pelvic fins absent

Micropterus salmoides

FRESHWATER

• large fish, elongate compressed body

• mouth large, terminal. posterior most point of upper jaw reaching past margin of eye

• ctenoid sales

• strongly arched lateral line

• spinous fins

• pelvic fins thoracic

Lepomis macrochirus

FRESHWATER

• deep compressed body

• mouth small, terminal, posterior most point of upper jaw not reaching past anterior margin of eye

• ctenoid scales

• strongly arched lateral line

• black spot on upper edge of operculum opening

Percina sciera

FRESHWATER

• compressed, elongate body

• eye large, located high on head

• pelvic fins thoracic

• body with midlateral row of 8-12 large dusky blotches

Etheostoma gracile

FRESHWATER

• large eyes located high on head

• small mouth, terminal

• elongate body

• ctenoid scales

• caudal fin homocercal

• teardrop marking below eye

Aplodinotus grunniens

FRESHAWATER

• deep compressed body

• head and anterior part of body greatly sloped

• subterminal mouth

• scales ctenoid

• complete lateral line

Herichthys cyanoguttatus

FRESHWATER

• mouth terminal

• scales ctenoid

• lateral line interrupted

• caudal fin homocercal

• pelvic fins thoracic

• males may exhibit a nuchal bump on head

Trinectes maculatus

FRESH AND BRACKISH

• oblong, laterally compressed fish

• asymmetrical body

• both eyes on right side of head

• mouth strongly arched on eye side

• scales ctenoid

• jugular pelvic fins

Spheroides nephelus

MARINE

• globular body

• large head

• gill opening a small slit- close to pectoral fin

• mouth terminal

• jaw teeth fused but separated by a median suture in each jaw, giving appearance of 4 teeth

• body without scales but with shoe prickles in belly region- skin lose

•