Fish Biology and Physiology: not very important

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and concepts related to fish biology and physiology, extracted from lecture notes.

Fish (definition)

A fish is a poikilothermic, aquatic chordate with gills and fins.

Ploikilothermic

Organisms whose internal body temperature varies considerably.

Vertebrates

Animals with a backbone, examples include fish, mammals, reptiles, and birds.

Agnatha

Jawless fishes, exemplified by lampreys and hagfishes.

Gnathostomata

Jawed vertebrates that include sharks, bony fishes, and tetrapods.

Chondrichthyes

Class of cartilaginous fish that includes sharks and rays.

Osteichthyes

Class of bony fish characterized by a bony skeleton rather than cartilage.

Phenotypic Variance (VP)

The total variation in a trait due to genetic and environmental factors.

Primary Response(s)

Immediate responses to stressors in fish, including hormonal changes.

Teleostomi

A clade of bony fish that includes the majority of fish species alive today.

Spiny Dorsal Fin

A dorsal fin characterized by stiff spines, found in many bony fishes.

Operculum

The bony flap that covers the gills of bony fish.

Caudal Fin

The tail fin of a fish, crucial for propulsion in swimming.

Sarcopterygii

Lobed-finned fishes that include the ancestors of tetrapods.

Actinopterygii

Ray-finned fishes, the largest class of vertebrates in terms of species diversity.

Locomotion Types in Fishes

Refers to various ways fishes move, including swimming, walking, and gliding.

Swimming Mechanisms

The anatomical structures and methods used by fish to propel themselves through water.

Body/Caudal Fin Propulsion

A method of swimming that primarily uses the body's movements and the caudal fin.

Median/Paired Fin Propulsion

Movement through water using fins that provide stability and thrust.

Feeding Mechanics in Fish

The physiological and anatomical processes involved in how fish capture and consume prey.