Biology II: Fishes

This set of flashcards covers key concepts and vocabulary related to the biology and characteristics of fishes as discussed in lectures.

Agnatha

A class of jawless fishes including hagfish and lampreys.

Notochord

A flexible, fibrous rod that serves as an axial skeleton, persisting into adulthood in some species.

Hagfish

Jawless marine fish known for scavenging and possessing slime glands for defense.

Lamprey

Parasitic jawless fish that clings to a host fish using a round mouth and rasping tongue.

Gnathostomes

All remaining vertebrates with jaws, evolved after jawless fish.

Chondrichthyes

A class of cartilaginous fishes including sharks, skates, and rays.

Osteichthyes

A superclass of bony fishes, characterized by an ossified skeleton.

Homodont dentition

A type of dentition where all teeth are similar in shape, typically conical.

Planktivorous

Organisms that feed on plankton, often seen in larger suspension feeding fishes.

Ampullae of Lorenzini

Electro-receptors in sharks that allow detection of electrical fields.

Ovipary

A mode of reproduction where eggs are laid and hatch outside the female's body.

Ovo-vivipary

A reproductive mode where eggs are retained within the oviduct and hatch inside.

Vivipary

A reproductive mode where young develop within the uterus and receive direct nutrients from the mother.

Operculum

A protective bony cover over the gills of bony fishes.

Swim bladder

An air-filled organ that helps bony fishes maintain buoyancy.

Buccal pumping

The process through which some fish gulp air and force it to their primitive lungs.

Coelacanth

A lobe-finned fish known as a 'living fossil', significant for its evolutionary history.

Developmental Modes

The different ways in which organisms reproduce and develop, including ovipary, ovo-vivipary, and vivipary.