Ichthyology

Lab Practical

Hydrolagus sp.

• Order: Chimaeriformes

• Family: Chimaeridae

• Genus: Hydrolagus Sp.

• Common Name: Ghost shark

• Synapomorphies:

  • Elongated cartilaginous body

  • Large head relative to body 

  • Single gill opening on each side 

  • Beak-like tooth plates

  • Low caudal fin

  • Venomous spines

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Bulky head 

  • Elongated body with whip-like tail

  • Wing-like pectoral fins 

  • Inferior mouth 

  • Smooth scaleless skin 

Carcharhinus acronotus 

• Order: Carcharhiniformes

• Family: Carcharhinidae

• Genus: Carcharhinus

• Species: acronotus

• Common Name: Blacknose shark

• Synapomorphies:

  • Nictitating membrane 

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Black spot on the end of snout 

Scyliorhinus retifer

• Order: Carcharhiniformes

• Family: Scyliorhinidae

• Genus: Scyliorhinus

• Species: retifer

• Common Name: Chain Dogfish

Rhizoprionodon terraenovae

• Order: Carcharhiniformes

• Family: Carcharhinidae

• Genus: Rhizoprionodon 

• Species: terraenovae

• Common Name: Atlantic sharpnose shark

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Labial furrows long

  • Cusps of teeth not serrated 

  • White spots along dorsal surface found in adults 

Carcharhinus brevipinna

• Order: Carcharhiniformes

• Family: Carcharhinidae

• Genus: Carcharhinus

• Species: brevipinna

• Common Name: Spinner shark

Carcharhinus leucas

• Order: Carcharhiniformes

• Family: Carcharhinidae

• Genus: Carcharhinus

• Species: leucas

• Common Name: Bull shark

Sphyrna lewini

• Order: Carcharhiniformes

• Family: Sphyrnidae

• Genus: Sphyrna

• Species: lewini

• Common Name: Scalloped hammerhead

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Black tip on pectoral fins

Rhinoptera bonasus

• Order: Myliobatiformes

• Family: Rhinopteridae

• Genus: Rhinoptera

• Species: bonasus

• Common Name: Cownose ray

Pseudobatos lentiginosus

• Order: Rhinopristiformes

• Family: Rhinobatidae

• Genus: Pseudobatos

• Species: lentiginosus

• Common Name: Atlantic guitarfish

• Synapomorphies:

  • Saw like rostrum extending ¼ or ⅓ of the total fish length (aka shovelnose)

  • Anterior preorbital foramen

  • Fused pectoral fin(s) to head

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Heart-shaped disk terminating in a wedge shaped mouth. 

  • Brown freckled posterior markings

  • Rivets along head to caudal 

Brotula barbata

• Order: Ophidiiformes

• Family: Ophidiidae

• Genus: Brotula

• Species: barbata

• Common Name: Bearded brotula

Cyprinella venusta

• Order: Cypriniformes

• Family: Leuciscidae

• Genus: Cyprinella

• Species: venusta

• Common Name: Blacktail shiner

Menidia beryllina

• Order: Atheriniformes

• Family: Atherinopsidae

• Genus: Menidia

• Species: beryllina

• Common Name: Inland silverside 

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Silvery to translucent bodies with big eyes

  • Silvery stripe on side with flattened head

  • Long air bladder that extends past anal fin

  • Found in freshwater habitats

Poecilia latipinna

• Order: Cyprinodontiformes

• Family: Poeciliidae 

• Genus: Poecilia

• Species: latipinna

• Common Name: Sailfin molly

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Line of dots across the body

  • Superior mouth 

  • Males have large, sail-like dorsal fin and teal coloration on fins

Cyprinodon variegatus 

• Order: Cyprinodontiformes

• Family: Cyprinodontidae

• Genus: Cyprinodon

• Species: variegatus

• Common Name: Sheepshead minnow

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Scales present on abdomen anterior to pelvic fins

  • 5-8 triangular bars along silver side 

  • Stout body

Fundulus similis

• Order: Cyprinodontiformes

• Family: Fundulidae 

• Genus: Fundulus

• Species: similis

• Common Name: Longnose killifish

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Dark vertical bars along body 

  • Long snout 

  • Elongated body

Hippocampus erectus

• Order: Syngnathiformes

• Family: Syngnathidae

• Genus: Hippocampus

• Species: erectus

• Common Name: Lined seahorse 

Strongylura marina

• Order: Beloniformes 

• Family: Belondiae

• Genus: Strongylura

• Species: marina

• Common Name: Atlantic needlefish

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Elongated upper and lower jaw 

  • Long and slender body 

  • Needle like teeth

Elops saurus

• Order: Elopiformes

• Family: Elopidae

• Genus: Elops

• Species: saurus

• Common Name: Ladyfish

Ariopsis felis

• Order: Siluriformes

• Family: Ariidae 

• Genus: Ariopsis

• Species: felis

• Common Name: Hardhead catfish

• Synapomorphies:

  • No scales

  • Adipose fin

  • Barbels

  • Serrated rays in pectoral fins 

• Defining Characteristics:

  • 6 barbels on snout

Trachinocephalus myops

• Order: Aulopiformes 

• Family: Synodontidae

• Genus: Trachinocephalus

• Species: myops

• Common Name: Snakefish

Lepisosteus osseus

• Order: Lepisosteiformes

• Family: Lepisosteidae

• Genus: Lepisosteus

• Species: osseus

• Common Name: Longnose gar

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Snout length greater than 78% of head length

Anchoa hepsetus

• Order: Clupeiformes

• Family: Engraulidae

• Genus: Anchoa

• Species: hepsetus

• Common Name: Broad-striped anchovy

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Huge mouth, gig eyes, stripe

Mugil curema

• Order: Mugiliformes

• Family: Mugilidae

• Genus: Mugil

• Species: curema

• Common Name: White mullet

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Sides of body without distinct stripes (dislike the striped mullet)

  • Second dorsal and anal fins densely covered in scales

Acipenser brevirostrum

• Order: Acipenseriformes

• Family: Acipenseridae

• Genus: Acipenser

• Species: brevirostrum

• Common Name: Shortnose sturgeon

Moxostoma poecilurum

• Order: Cypriniformes

• Family: Catostomidae

• Genus: Moxostoma

• Species: poecilurum

• Common Name: Blacktail redhorse

• Synapomorphies:

  • No teeth

  • Protrusible jaw 

Ictalurus punctatus

• Order: Siluriformes

• Family: Ictaluridae

• Genus: Ictalurus

• Species: punctatus

• Common Name: Channel catfish

• Synapomorphies:

  • No scales

  • Adipose fin

  • Barbels 

  • Serrated rays in pectoral fins 

Carpiodes carpio

• Order: Cypriniformes

• Family: Catostomidae

• Genus: Carpiodes

• Species: carpio

• Common Name: River carpsucker

• Synapomorphies:

  • No teeth 

  • Protrusible jaw 

Anguilla rostrata

• Order: Anguilliformes

• Family: Anguillidae

• Genus: Anguilla

• Species: rostrata

• Common Name: American eel

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Scaleless body

  • Dorsal fin connects to tail

  • Elongated body 

  • Absence of pelvic fins 

  • Cycloid scales 

  • Lack of sexual dimorphism in juvelines 

Amia calva

• Order: Amiiformes

• Family: Amiidae

• Genus: Amia

• Species: calva

• Common Name: Bowfin

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Highly mobile jaw 

  • Cycloid scales

  • Long dorsal fin & robust body 

  • Armor-plated head

  • Abbreviated heterocercal tail

  • Distinctive eyespot on tail fin 

Mugil cephalus

• Order: Mugiliformes

• Family: Mugilidae

• Genus: Mugil

• Species: cephalus

• Common Name: Striped mullet

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Dorsal coloring darker than mugil curema 

  • Stripes alongside body 

  • Second dorsal and anal fins mostly scaleless 

Gymnothorax nigromarginatus 

• Order: Anguilliformes

• Family: Muraenidae

• Genus: Gymnothorax

• Species: nigromarginatus

• Common Name: Blackedge moray

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Prominent spots & coloring to ends of fins 

  • Reduced lateral line

  • Absence of paired fins

  • Lack of scales 

  • Pharyngeal jaw 

Ginglymostoma cirratum 

• Order: Orectolobiformes

• Family: Ginglymostomatidae

• Genus: Ginglymostoma

• Species: cirratum

• Common Name: Nurse shark

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Small subterminal mouth 

  • Front margin of nostrils with well-developed barbles (connected to mouth by nasoral grooves)

  • Spots across body 

Scorpaena plumieri

• Order: Scorpaeniformes

• Family: Scorpaenidae

• Genus: Scorpaena

• Species: plumieri

• Common Name: Spotted scorpionfish

Bascanichthys bascanium

• Order: Anguilliformes

• Family: Ophichthidae

• Genus: Bascanichthys

• Species: bascanium

• Common Name: Sooty eel

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Very elongated body, small pectoral fins 

  • Finless & blunt tail tip (Specialized tail tip)

  • Lack of markings

Sternoptyx pseudobscura

• Order: Stomiiformes

• Family: Sternoptychidae

• Genus: Sternoptyx

• Species: pseudobscura 

• Common Name: Highlight hatchetfish

Syngnathus scovelli

• Order: Syngnathiformes

• Family: Syngnathidae

• Genus: Syngnathus

• Species: scovelli

• Common Name: Gulf pipefish

Harengula jaguana

• Order: Clupeiformes

• Family: Clupeidae

• Genus: Harengula

• Species: jaguana

• Common Name: Scaled sardine

• Synapomorphies:

  • Direct connection between gas bladder and ear to enhance hearing 

  • Fast repetitive ticks for communication 

  • Silvery guanine scales

  • Large gill rakers for panktivory

Pimephales vigilax

• Order: Cypriniformes

• Family: Leuciscidae

• Genus: Pimephales

• Species: vigilax

• Common Name: Bullhead Minnow

Brevoortia patronus

• Order: Clupeiformes

• Family: Clupeidae

• Genus: Brevoortia

• Species: patronus

• Common Name: Gulf menhaden

• Synapomorphies:

  • Direct connection between gas bladder and ear to enhance hearing 

  • Fast repetitive ticks for communication 

  • Silvery guanine scales 

  • Large gill rakers for planktivory

Prionotus ophryas

• Order: Scorpaeniformes

• Family: Triglidae

• Genus: Prionotus

• Species: ophryas

• Common Name: Bandtail searobin

Pterois volitans

• Order: Scorpaeniformes

• Family: Scorpaenidae

• Genus: Pterois

• Species: volitans 

• Common Name: Red lionfish

Megalops atlanticus

• Order: Elopiformes

• Family: Megalopidae

• Genus: Megalops

• Species: atlanticus

• Common Name: Tarpon

Opisthonema oglinum

• Order: Clupeiformes

• Family: Dorosomatidae

• Genus: Opisthonema

• Species: oglinum

• Common Name: Atlantic thread herring

• Synapomorphies:

  • Direct connection between gas bladder and ear to enhance hearing 

  • Fast repetitive ticks for communication

  • Silvery guanine scales

  • Large gill rakers for planktivory

Histrio histrio

• Order: Lophiiformes

• Family: Antennariidae

• Genus: Histrio

• Species: histrio

• Common Name: Sargassum fish

• Synapomorphies:

  • Deep sea anglerfish

  • Parasitic males

  • Extreme sexual dimorphism

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Arm-like pelvic fins

  • Illicium right above eyes

Cheilopogon exsiliens

• Order: Beloniformes

• Family: Exocoetidae

• Genus: Cheilopogon

• Species: exsiliens

• Common Name: Bandwing flyingfish

Syngnathus louisianae

• Order: Syngnathiformes

• Family: Syngnathidae

• Genus: Syngnathus

• Species: louisianae

• Common Name: Chain pipefish

Halieutichthys aculeatus 

• Order: Lophiiformes

• Family: Ogcocephalidae

• Genus: Halieutichthys

• Species: aculeatus

• Common Name: Pancake batfish

• Synapomorphies

  • Deep sea anglerfish

  • Parasitic males

  • Extreme sexual dimorphism 

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Flat

  • Pelvic fin

  • Small, inferior mouth

  • Ventral surface of disc naked

Ameiurus melas

• Order: Siluriformes

• Family: Ictaluridae

• Genus: Ameiurus

• Species: melas

• Common Name: Black bullhead

Synodus foetens

• Order: Aulopiformes

• Family: Synodontidae

• Genus: Synodus

• Species: foetens

• Common Name: Inshore Lizardfish

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Tip of pectoral fin does NOT extend past pelvic fin base 

  • 54 to 65 lateral line scales

Hypanus sabinus

• Order: Myliobatiformes

• Family: Dasyatidae

• Genus: Hypanus

• Species: sabinus

• Common Name: Atlantic stingray

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Pectoral fins near snout are concave 

  • Concave snout 

  • No caudal fin 

  • Disc width is much more narrow than long

Mustelus canis 

• Order: Carcharhiniformes

• Family: Triakidae

• Genus: Mustelus

• Species: canis

• Common Name: Smooth dogfish

Rostroraja texana

• Order: Rajiformes

• Family: Rajidae

• Genus: Rostroraja

• Species: texana

• Common Name: Roundel skate

letter S6

Lepisosteus oculatus

• Order: Lepisosteiformes

• Family: Lepisosteidae

• Genus: Lepisosteus

• Species: oculatus

• Common Name: Spotted gar

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Spots on the snout, head, fins and body 

  • Lateral line scales 53-59

  • Predorsal scales 46-54

  • Scale rows from anal plate to middorsal scale 17-20

letter S7

Esox niger

• Order: Esociformes

• Family: Esocidae

• Genus: Esox

• Species: niger

• Common Name: Chain pickerel

• Synapomorphies:

  • Freshwater living 

  • Posterior dorsal and anal fins

  • Submadibular pores

• Defining Characteristics:

  • Chain like markings

  • Black slash above/under eye

  • Forked tail

Narcine bancroftii

• Order: Torpediniformes

• Family: Narcinidae

• Genus: Narcine

• Species: bancroftii

• Common Name: Lesser electric ray