Advanced Teleosts Review

Euteleostei

The largest teleost radiation: contains 2/3 of all teleost species (>17,400 species).

Supraneural/Predorsal

Euteleostei have a debated monophyly, but they are linked by specific embryonic development of the _____/_____ bones.

Stegural

Euteleostei have an outgrowth of the _____ bone in the tail base (dorsal support of the urostyle).

Adipose Fin

Less-derived groups of Euteleostei have an enigmatic _____.

Protacanthyopterygii

Super order that loosely related to marine, freshwater and diadromous fishes.

Euteleosts

Protacanthopterygii are considered less-derived _____ (lack true spines).

Salmoniformes, Esociformes, Argentiniformes, and Osmeriformes

What are the four orders of the superorder Protacanthopterygii?

Axillary Process, Physostomous

Salmoniformes (salmons, trouts, & whitefishes) have distinct anatomical characteristics: adipose fin, no spiny rays, pelvic _____, and _____ gas bladder.

Anadromous

Salmoniformes are often highly migratory (_____), traveling thousands of kilometers to sea and returning to natal rivers to spawn.

Protacanthopterygians

Esociformes, Osmeriformes, and Stomiiformes are primarily pikes and smelts, and make up other _____.

Esociformes

Maxilla included in gape but toothless; median fins set far back for ambush predation (e.g., Northern Pike, Muskellunge).

Osmeriformes

Small, silvery water-column dwellers. Includes important commercial forage species like Capelin and Rainbow Smelts.

Stomiiformes

Deep-sea dragonfishes with huge teeth and photophores (now considered sister to Osmeriformes).

Neoteleostei

The radiation _____ is monophyletic based on skull and jaw changes, such as the first vertebra articulating with three skull bones (instead of one).

Basioccipital, Exoccipitals

Neoteleostei have _____ and paired _____ which serve critical functions in hearing, swallowing, and spinal articulation.

Retractor dorsalis

Neoteleostei have the _____ muscle that pulls the pharyngeal jaws backwards.

Ateleopodomorpha, Cyclosquamata, and Scopelomorpha

What are three primary orders of basal Neoteleosts?

Ateleopodomorpha

Jelly-nose fishes (cartilaginous skeletons, swim near bottom).

Cyclosquamata

Aulopiformes; deep-sea tripod fishes and shallow-water lizardfishes (first appearance of hermaphroditism.)

Scopelomorpha

Myctophiformes; Laternfishes. Crucial mesopelagic deep-sea group with species-specific photophore patterns; major component of deep scattering layer.

Acanthomorpha

Neoteleosts possessing true fin spines (unsegmented, fused rays) in dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins.

Vertebral Accessories, Pharyngeal Teeth, Premaxilla

Acanthomorpha have several evolutionary advances such as strengthen _____ for stiffened, rapid tail-driven swimming, diversified _____, and a maxilla that acts as a lever to pivot the _____, vastly improving jaw protrusion and suction feeding.

Lamprimorpha

Less derived superorder of acanthomorphs; lack true spines but possess the advanced pivoting maxilla. Most of them are large, open-water oceanic fishes.

Opahs

Warm-blooded swimming muscles.

Oarfish (Regalecus)

The world’s longest living teleost (7–11m), that is known to hover vertically using a long red dorsal crest; likely the source of ‘sea serpent’ myths.

Paracanthopterygii

A contentious evolutionary side-branch of advanced spiny fishes that are a highly successful benthic marine fishes, nocturnal feeders, and deep-sea/cave dwellers. Includes beardfishes, trout-perches, blind cavefishes, and dories.

Sonic Muscles

Paracanthopterygii contains many species that produce sounds using _____ attached to their gas bladders.

Gadiformes

This order containing cods and hakes is the most commercially important Paracanthopterygians. They lack true spines; long dorsal fins often divided into 2-3 sections; and chin barbels are common. They are primarily cold, northern marine fishes (except the freshwater Burbot).

Berycimorphaceae, Holocentrimorphaceae, Percomorphaceae

What are the three major divisions of Acanthopterygii based on morphology and supported molecular data?

Ophidiida, Batrachoidida, Mugilomorpha, Atherinomorpha, Percomorpha

Percomorphaceae is further divided into five subseries, what are they?

Berycimorphaceae

Comprises deep-sea or nocturnal fishes at the base of the acanthomorphs. Includes trachichthyiforms (roughies, flashlight fishes) and beryciforms (pricklefishes, whalefishes).

Ray Counts

Berycimorphaceae have several distinct characteristics such as large heads, strong head spines, and tail fins with primitively high _____ (18–19). Many deep-water species exhibit _____ and reduced scale coverage.

Holocentrimorphaceae

Contains a single order: Holocentriformes (squirrelfishes). Comprises approximately 90 species of tropical marine fishes, found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans, and typically inhabit shallow depths (under 100m) and hide in coral reef crevices during daylight.

Percomorphaceae

A massive group containing more than 17,000 species. Features a pelvic girdle connected directly or via ligament to the pectoral girdle which attaches to coracoid and cleithrum.

Ophidiida, Batrachoidida, Mugilomorpha, Atherinomorpha, Percomorpha

What are the five subseries of Percomorphaceae?

Ophidiida

Includes cusk-eels, viviparous brotulas, and pearlfishes. Anatomical traits include high lateral pectoral fins, anterior (jugular) pelvic fins (when present). Pearlfishes are inquilines live inside invertebrate hosts (starfishes, sea cucumbers). Holds the depth record for a fish (Abyssobrotula galatheae at 8,370 meters).

Mugilomorpha

Includes Mullets (family Mugilidae). Nearshore, catadromous fishes of significant economic importance. Anatomical distinctions include separated spiny and soft dorsal fins. Pelvic girdle lacks direct connection to the pectoral girdle. Many are detritivores utilizing a gizzard-like stomach

Atherinomorpha

Known as surface dwellers, they are a highly successful subseries of oceans and freshwater habitats. Shares a unique jaw protrusion mechanism linked via the rostral cartilage. Features terminal or superior mouths ideal for surface feeding.

Atheriniformes, Beloniformes, Cyprinodontiformes

What are the three orders of the subseries Atherinomorpha?

Chorionic Filaments

Egg-laying families of Atherinomorpha have _____ that protrude from the demersal adhesive of eggs.

Beloniformes

Predominantly silvery, active surface marine fishes. Includes needlefishes, flyingfishes, and halfbeaks. Morphological trends include elongation of the lower jaw (halfbeaks) or both jaws (needlefishes).

Lower Caudal Lobe

Flyingfishes use an elongated _____ to scull and accelerate for gliding flights.

Cyprinodontiformes

Major freshwater group, highly tolerant of hypersaline and temperatures. Includes killifishes, topminnows, pupfishes, and livebearers (poeciliids). Noteworthy species include annual rivulines diapause surviving droughts via resting robust chorion wrapped eggs. Anablepid four-eyed fishes possess eyes divided to simultaneously see above and below water.

Syngnathiformes

Encompasses seahorses, pipefishes, seamoths, and trumpetfishes. Often encased in bony rings. Seahorses are currently at risk due to overharvesting for the traditional medicine and aquarium trades.

Ventral Pouch

In Syngnathiform male pregnancy, males brood developing embryos in a _____.

Gasterosteiformes, Syngnathiformes, Synbranchiformes, Scorpaeniformes

What are four main orders of Percomorpha?

Synbranchiformes

Small order of eel-like fishes primarily found in freshwater swamps. Includes synbranchid swamp and rice eels capable of air-breathing. Highly derived anatomy includes complete loss of pectoral, pelvic, dorsal, anal, and sometimes caudal fins.

Amphistylic Suspension

Synbranchiformes have a unique upper jaw structure attached to the palatoquadrate at two points. This is known as _____.

Scorpaeniformes

Feature a posteriorly directed spine below the eye. Scorpaenidae (scorpionfishes and rockfishes) are diverse, often possessing venomous fin spines. Includes dangerous predators like lionfishes and the highly venomous stonefishes. Benthic lifestyle often coincides with a lack of scales.

Cottoidei

Superorder that contains the only freshwater scorpaeniforms (sculpins). Includes a unique flock of oilfishes in Asia’s Lake Baikal.

Cyclopteroids

Superorder that represents the most derived forms of Scorpaeniformes (contains lumpfishes and snailfishes).

Pelvic Suction

Snailfishes utilize _____ disks and inhabit depths from tide pools down to 7,000 meters.

Perciformes

Also known as the Perch-Like Fishes, this is the largest vertebrate order, containing over 100 families and 10,000+ species. Incredibly successful in shallow, productive habitats (e.g., coral reefs).

17 Principal

Perciformes have spines in dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins; abdominal pelvic fins and vertically oriented pectoral fins; and never more than _____ caudal fin rays.

Pomatomidae

Bluefish, known for voracious, slashing schooling attacks. Part of the Percoidei pelagic predators that are active, water-column dwellers, often laterally compressed and silvery.

Piscivores

Centropomids (snooks) and latids (Nile Perch) are large _____.

Serranidae

Seabasses and groupers that include nearly 600 species of diverse shapes and sizes. Many of them are hermaphroditic and form massive spawning aggregates, making them vulnerable to overfishing.

Centrarchidae

Sunfishes and black basses; dominant North American freshwater carnivores. Known for male-defended bottom nests.

Percidae

Darters, perches, and walleye; over 184 species of small, benthic darters inhabit North American lotic systems. Darters are highly sensitive to pollution and habitat modification, leaving many species imperiled.

Apogonidae

Known as Cardinalfishes, small, nocturnal coral reef fishes with large eyes and mouths; many are mouth-brooders.

Malacanthidae

Known as Tilefishes, marine fishes that inhabit and engineer burrows. Tilefish burrowing creates hard-bottom patches that support diverse micro-ecosystems on sandy floors.

Coryphaenidae

Dolphinfishes (mahi-mahi), noted for extreme sexual dimorphism in skull shape.

Echeneidae

Fish like Remoras that possess a dorsal fin modified into a suction disk for hitchhiking on larger marine animals.

Carangidae

A large family (151 species) of tropical nearshore and pelagic fishes, ranging from small scads to large amberjacks. Often slightly to highly laterally compressed. Frequently found in shoals, with some large species exhibiting cooperative hunting.

Caudal Peduncle Tendons

In Carangiform swimming, they have highly efficient locomotion by using side-to-side tail movement, transferring thrust from body musculature via _____.

Lutjanidae

Snappers; nocturnal/crepuscular predators with large canine teeth.

Haemulidae

Grunts; nocturnal invertebrate feeders that migrate daily between shaded resting areas and feeding grounds.

Sparidae

Porgies & Breams; diversified feeding strategies & pharyngeal dentition.

Sparidae

Porgies & Breams; diversified feeding strategies & pharyngeal dentition.

Sciaenidae

Croakers/Drums; utilize gas bladder muscles for sound production; possess massive otoliths.

Toxotidae

Archerfishes; shoot water droplets to knock terrestrial insects from overhanging vegetation.

Chaetodontidae

Butterflyfishes; colorful, diurnal coral polyp/invertebrate feeders often used to gauge reef health.

Pomacanthidae

Angelfishes; distinguished by a preopercular spine; feed on sessile invertebrates like sponges.

Cirrhitidae

Hawkfishes; sit motionless on coral heads utilizing elongate lower pectoral rays, ambushing prey.

Sphyraenidae

Barracudas; most barracudas are active, schooling predators. Taxonomic placement is highly debated.

Cichlidae

Cichlids; massive tropical freshwater family with over 1,700 species. United primarily by specialized pharyngeal jaw morphology. Underwent explosive speciation (species flocks) in African rift lakes. Convergent in morphology and ecology with North American sunfishes.

Embiotocidae

Surfperches; coastal marine fishes, primarily in the North Pacific. The only labroids that give birth to live, fully developed young.

Pomacentridae

Damselfishes; includes 423 tropical marine species; highly territorial herbivores or water- column planktivores.

Protandrous Sequential Hermaphroditism

Anemonefishes maintain intimate symbiotic relationships with invertebrate hosts, known as _____.

Labridae

Wrasses; highly diverse (564 species) diurnal fishes utilizing labriform (pectoral) swimming; most undergo sex and color changes:

• Monandric Protogyny

• Diandric Protogyny

Scaridae

Parrotfishes; characterized by fused teeth forming a beak. Parrotfishes scrape algae from coral and use massive pharyngeal mills to grind it, contributing heavily to reef sand production.

Zoarcoidei

Elongate benthic fishes of the North Pacific (eel pouts, gunnels, wolffishes).

Crushing Dentition

Wolffishes act as cold-water equivalents to moray eels, possessing massive _____.

Notothenioidei

The ‘icefishes’, dominating Antarctic benthic habitats. Adapted to extreme cold with glycoprotein antifreezes; some entirely lack hemoglobin/red blood cells.

Trachinoidei

Superorder of mostly benthic marine fishes including swallowers, sand lances, and stargazers.

Uranoscopidae

Stargazers; Sit buried in sand with dorsally located eyes. Stargazers are venomous and electrogenic, using modified eye muscles to produce strong pulses of electricity (up to 50 volts).

Blennioidei

Superorder containing small, benthic marine fishes (e.g., combtooth, kelp, and tube blennies). Some species of Sabre-toothed blennies perfectly mimic cleaner wrasses to bite flesh from unsuspecting client fishes. Tube blennies often inhabit abandoned worm tubes permanently.

Cirri

Blennioidei are characterized by long dorsal/anal fins and fleshy head flaps called _____.

Icosteoidei

Features the Ragfish, a highly compressed, scaleless pelagic fish with a largely uncalcified skeleton.

Callionymoidei

Dragonets, small, colorful shallow-water Indo-Pacific fishes.

Gobiesocoidei

Clingfishes; adapted for high-energy wave zones with pelvic fins modified into strong sucking disks.

Gobioidei

Superorder of mostly small, benthic fishes lacking gas bladders; contains sleepers and gobies. Typically feature united pelvic fins forming a suction disk. Includes extreme adaptations like amphibious mudskippers and diminutive species maturing at just 10 millimeters.

Gobiidae

The largest marine fish family (1,950+ species).

Kurtoidei

Nuseryfishes; males carry eggs on a specialized hook-like growth on the top of their heads.

Acanthuroidei

Spadefishes, scats, rabbitfishes, and surgeonfishes. Surgeonfishes are herbivorous reef fishes defined by a modified, scalpel-like scale on the caudal peduncle used for defense

Xiphioidei

Swordfish and marlins; the ocean's fastest predators. Independent evolution of cranial endothermy.

Scombroidei

Tunas and mackerels; apex open-sea predators. Feature non-protractile mouths and rigid fin structures for high-speed pelagic cruising; tunas exhibit advanced heat conservation.

Stromateoidei

Driftfishes and butterfishes; juveniles often associate with jellyfish.

Anabantoidei

Gouramis; possess a labyrinth organ for breathing atmospheric oxygen; males build bubble nests.

Channoidei

Snakeheads; highly predatory Asian/African freshwater fishes; notorious as destructive invasive species in North America.