Fish Anatomy and Phylogeny Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards related to fish anatomy and phylogeny based on lecture notes.

Craniata

A protective brain covering found in Craniata.

Vertebrata

A covered nerve cord found in Vertebrata.

Gnathostomata

Having jaws

Agnatha

Jawless fish; a superclass including hagfish and lampreys.

Chondrichthyes

Cartilaginous fishes: sharks, skates, and rays.

Osteichthyes

Bony fishes

Actinopterygii

Ray-finned fishes within Osteichthyes.

Sarcopterygii

Lobe-finned fishes and tetrapods within Osteichthyes.

Monophyletic Groups

A group of species that evolved from a single ancestor and includes all descendants of that ancestor.

Paraphyletic Groups

A group of species sharing an immediate ancestor but not including all descendants of that ancestor

Polyphyletic Groups

A grouping of species who do not share an immediate common ancestor.

Synapomorphy

Shared character derived from a common ancestor; separates a group from another group.

Autapomorphy

Derived character that is present in one member of the group; separates individual taxa from others in the group.

Symplesiomorphy

A character shared by all members of the group in question; an ancestral character.

Notochord

The flexible rod-shaped body found in chordates.

Pharyngeal Gill Slits

One of the four characteristics of chordates, along with the notochord, nerve cord, notochord and post-anal tail.

Post-Anal Tail

Posterior elongation of the body extending beyond the anus found in chordates

Craniata

A group with a skull, including all the vertebrate groups plus the hagfish.

Hagfish

Exclusively marine benthic scavengers that feed on dead and dying fish and marine mammals.

Vertebrata

Vertebrates with vertebrae of cartilage or bone and a brain in a protective chamber.

Lampreys

Jawless fish with sucking mouthparts; parasites/predators found in marine and freshwater environments.

Gnathostomata

Jawed vertebrates with hinged jaws and paired appendages.

Cartilaginous Skeleton

Skeleton made of cartilage which is 'calcified' with granules of calcium carbonate, light strong skeleton, advanced jaw

Placoid scales

Tooth--like scales found in sharks

Elasmobranchii

A subclass of Chondrichthyes including sharks, skates, and rays.

Osteichthyes

Class of bony fishes with a bony skeleton and lungs or swim bladder.

Swim bladder

A gas-filled bladder that regulates buoyancy in ray-finned fish.

Operculum

A bony cover to gill tissue in bony fish with lots of vessels, delicate

Actinopterygii

Ray-finned fish with swim bladders for buoyancy regulation.

Sarcopterygii

Lobe-finned fish and tetrapods with thick, muscular fin bases and lungs.

Ampullae of Lorenzini

Electrical sensors found in sharks

Heterocercal Tail

Tail fin shapes found in sharks - asymmetrical, with the vertebral column extending into the upper lobe