ECCB 302 Lab- Ichthyology

7 characteristics of Chordata

(1) notochord present at some stage in development; (2) single dorsal, hollow nerve cord with or without an enlarged anterior end; (3) pharyngeal pouches and gill slits present at some stage in development; (4) postanal tail; (5) segmented (metameric) body, including segmented muscle blocks (myomeres) in at least tail region at some stage of development; (6) endostyle; (7) ventral heart with dorsal and ventral blood vessels forming a closed circulatory system

3 subphyla of Chordata

Urochordata, Cephalochordata, Vertebrata

Pleated sea squirt

Subphylum: Urochordata

Family: Styelidae

Styela plicata

Distribution: marine

Colonial sea squirt

Subphylum: Urochordata

Family: Pyrosomatidae

Pyrosoma atlanticum

Distribution: marine

Lancelet

Subphylum: Cephalochordata

Family: Branchiostomatidae

Branchiostoma sp.

Distribution: marine

5 characteristics of Cyclostomata

(1) single median nostril; (2) pouched gills; (3) a velum (a membranous flap in the pharynx that aids in pumping of water over the gills [not visible externally]); (4) keratinous teeth-like structures supported on tongue-like structure; and (5) the absence of jaws

Hagfish

Order: Myxiniformes

Family: Myxinidae

Eptatretus sp.

Distribution: marine

Sea lamprey

Order: Petromyzontiformes

Family: Petromyzontidae

Petromyzon sp.

Distribution: marine and freshwater

3 characteristics of Gnathostomata

(1) jaws; (2) typically two pairs of paired appendages (pectoral fins/forelimbs and pelvic fins/hind limbs); and (3) three semi-circular canals in the inner ear

3 characteristics of Chondrichthyes

(1) placoid scales, pelvic claspers (intromittent organs, found only in males), (2) calcified cartilage (not possible to see externally), and (3) ampullae of Lorenzini (electrosensory organs, most conspicuous on snout)

2 characteristics of Holocephali

(1) presence of a single external gill opening; (2) teeth modified to form a beak-like structure

Spotted ratfish

Order: Chimaeriformes

Family: Chimaeridae

Hydrolagus colliei

Distribution: marine

Scales: placoid

2 characteristics of Elasmobranchii

(1) presence of 5–7 (typically 5) gill slits; and (2) polyphyodont dentition with multiple cohorts of replacement teeth located in gums simultaneously

1 characteristic of Selachii

Characterized by having gill slits on lateral surface of head

Hammerhead shark

Order: Carcharhiniformes

Family: Sphyrnidae

Sphyrna sp.

Distribution: marine

Scales: placoid

Dogfish

Order: Squaliformes

Family: Squalidae

Squalus sp.

Distribution: marine

Scales: placoid

3 characteristics of Batomorphii

(1) greatly enlarged pectoral fins that are fused to side of head; (2) absence of anal fin; and (3) having gill slits on ventral surface of head

Atlantic stingray

Order: Myliobatiformes

Family: Dasyatidae

Hypanus sabinus

Distribution: marine

Scales: placoid

Skate

Order: Rajiformes

Family: Rajidae

Raja sp.

Distribution: marine

Scales: placoid

4 characteristics of Osteichthyes

(1) the presence of endochondral bone (bone that develops from a cartilaginous precursor); (2) a gas filled bladder derived from the alimentary canal (referred to as a lung in sarcopterygians and cladistians and a swim bladder or gas bladder in all other actinopterygians); (3) dermal jaw bones, including the maxilla and premaxilla in the upper jaw and dentary in the lower jaw; and (4) lepidotrichia or fin rays, dermal bones that support fins (not present in extant tetrapods)

1 characteristic of Sarcopterygii

Characterized by the presence of lobate paired-fins (or limbs), which articulate with body via a single basal element (think of your humerus or femur)

African lungfish

Order: Ceratodontiformes

Family: Protopteridae

Protopterus sp.

Distribution: freshwater

Scales: cycloid

4 characteristics of Actinopterygii

(1) branchiostegal rays (dermal bones supporting the gill membranes); (2) interopercle (dermal bone supporting the operculum); (3) acrodine, a special type of mineralized enamel, forming a cap at the tip of each tooth; and (4) typically a single dorsal fin (if present; many exceptions)

Bichir

Order: Polypteriformes

Family: Polypteridae

Polypterus sp.

Distribution: freshwater

Scales: ganoid

Shovelnose sturgeon

Order: Acipenseriformes

Family: Acipenseridae

Scaphirhynchus platorynchus

Distribution: freshwater

Scales: ganoid (?)

American paddlefish

Order: Acipenseriformes

Family: Polyodontidae

Polyodon spathula

Distribution: freshwater

Scales: ganoid (?)

Alligator gar

Order: Lepisosteiformes

Family: Lepisosteidae

Atractosteus spatula

Distribution: freshwater, brackish, and marine

Scales: ganoid

Longnose gar

Order: Lepisosteiformes

Family: Lepisosteidae

Lepisosteus osseus

Distribution: freshwater

Scales: ganoid

Bowfin

Order: Amiiformes

Family: Amiidae

Amia calva

Distribution: freshwater

Scales: cycloid

1 characteristic of Teleostei

All teleost fishes possess a homocercal caudal fin (if present)

Ladyfish

Order: Elopiformes

Family: Elopidae

Elops saurus

Distribution: marine and brackish

Scales: cycloid

Gizzard shad

Order: Clupeiformes

Family: Clupeidae

Dorosoma cepedianum

Distribution: freshwater

Scales: cycloid

Bay anchovy

Order: Clupeiformes

Family: Engraulidae

Anchoa mitchili

Distribution: marine

Scales: cycloid

1 characteristic of Otophysi

Characterized by the Weberian Apparatus

Red shiner

Order: Cypriniformes

Family: Cyprinidae

Cyprinella lutrensis

Distribution: freshwater

Scales: cycloid

Common carp

Order: Cypriniformes

Family: Cyprinidae

Cyprinus carpio

Distribution: freshwater

Scales: cycloid

Channel catfish

Order: Siluriformes

Family: Ictaluridae

Ictalurus punctatus

Distribution: freshwater

Scales: none

Texas tetra

Order: Characiformes

Family: Characidae

Astyanax argentatus

Distribution: freshwater

Scales: cycloid (?)

Mosquito fish

Order: Cyprinodontiformes

Family: Poecilidae

Gambusia affinis

Distribution: freshwater and brackish water

Scales: cycloid

Lined seahorse

Order: Syngnathiformes

Family: Syngnathidae

Hippocampus erectus

Distribution: marine

Scales: none (?)

Gulf pipefish

Order: Syngnathiformes

Family: Syngnathidae

Syngnathus scovelli

Distribution: marine

Scales: none (?)

Largemouth bass

Order: Centrarchiformes

Family: Centrarchidae

Micropterus salmoides

Distribution: freshwater

Scales: ctenoid

Bluegill

Order: Centrarchiformes

Family: Centrarchidae

Lepomis macrochirus

Distribution: freshwater

Scales: ctenoid

Dusky darter

Order: Perciformes

Family: Percidae

Percina sciera

Distribution: freshwater

Scales: ctenoid

Slough darter

Order: Perciformes

Family: Percidae

Etheostoma gracile

Distribution: freshwater

Scales: ctenoid

Freshwater drum

Order: Acanthuriformes

Family: Sciaenidae

Aplodinotus grunniens

Distribution: freshwater

Scales: ctenoid

Rio Grande cichlid

Order: Cichliformes

Family: Cichlidae

Herichthys cyanoguttatus

Distribution: freshwater

Scales: ctenoid

Hogchoker

Order: Pleuronectiformes

Family: Achiridae

Trinectes maculatus

Distribution: freshwater and brackish water

Scales: ctenoid

Southern puffer

Order: Tetraodontiformes

Family: Tetraodontidae

Sphoeroides nephelus

Distribution: marine

Scales: none (?)