Marine Science - Bony Fish Vocab

Ichthyology

The branch of zoology that deals with the study of fish.

Osteichthyes

A class of fish, commonly known as bony fish, characterized by skeletons primarily composed of bone.

Actinopterygii

A subclass of Osteichthyes, also known as ray-finned fish, distinguished by fins supported by bony rays.

Clupeiformes

An order of fish that includes herring, sardines, and anchovies, characterized by their streamlined bodies.

Gadiformes

An order of fish that includes cod and haddock, known for their commercial importance.

Chondrichthyes

A class of cartilaginous fish, including sharks, rays, and skates, characterized by skeletons made of cartilage.

Elasmobranchii

A subclass of Chondrichthyes, including sharks and rays, characterized by their gill slits and cartilaginous skeletons.

Streamlined

Designed with a shape that reduces resistance to motion through water.

Buoyancy

The ability to float or rise in a fluid, often aided by a swim bladder in fish.

Swim bladder

An internal gas-filled organ that helps fish maintain buoyancy.

Countershading

A form of camouflage where an animal's coloration is darker on the top and lighter underneath.

Cartilaginous

Made of cartilage rather than bone.

Lateral lines

Sensory organs in fish that detect vibrations and movements in the water.

Electroreception

The ability to detect electric fields, used by some fish for hunting or navigation.

Ampullae of Lorenzini

Specialized sensory organs in sharks and rays that detect electric fields in the water.

Gills

Respiratory organs that extract oxygen from water.

Dorsal

Pertaining to the upper side or back of an organism.

Ventral

Pertaining to the underside or belly of an organism.

Caudal

Pertaining to the tail or posterior part of a fish.

Pelvic

Referring to the fins located on the lower part of a fish's body.

Pectoral

Referring to the fins located near the fish's chest.

Spawn

The process of laying eggs or releasing reproductive material in aquatic animals.

External fertilization

A reproductive process where eggs are fertilized outside the body.

Internal fertilization

A reproductive process where fertilization occurs inside the body.

Oviparous

Producing eggs that hatch outside the mother's body.

Viviparous

Giving birth to live young that have developed inside the mother.

Ovoviviparous

Producing eggs that hatch within the mother, leading to live birth.

Parthenogenesis

A form of asexual reproduction where an egg develops into an organism without fertilization.

Simultaneous hermaphroditism

An organism has both male and female reproductive organs and can function as both simultaneously.

Sequential hermaphroditism

An organism changes sex at some point in its life.