Field Ichthyology

Petromyzontidae

Acipenseridae

Polyodontidae

Lepisosteidae

Amiidae (Bowfin)

Anguillidae

Clupeidae

• Lack scales on head

• One dorsal fin 

• Axillary process present on dorsal fins

Hiodontidae

Osmeridae

• Slender bodies with a large snout

• Cycloid scales

• Adipose fin

• No spines in fins

• Lack a pelvic axillary process

• Abdominal pelvic fins.

Esocidae

Cyprinidae

Leuciscidae

• Pelvic fins on abdominal region instead of sides 

• No cycloid scales on head

• lateral line variable but present

• no true spines in dorsal fin

Catostomidae

Ictaluridae

Aphredoderidae

• Small, robust fish

• Small, robust fish

• Thick caudal peduncle

• large mouth

• Ctenoid scales on head and body

• One dorsal fin with spines and rays

• Anus and urogenital opening in adults is positioned between gill membranes, but is positioned normally in juveniles.

Lotidae

Fundulidae

Poeciliidae

Atherinopsidae

Gasterosteidae

Cottidae

Moronidae

Centrarchidae

Percidae (Darter)

Percidae (Perch)

Sciaenidae

• 2 dorsal fins, first short and spinous and second longer with rays

• Not completely separated

• 1-2 anal spines

• Lateral line extends to end of caudal fin

• Body deep and highly arched at origin of dorsal fin

Gobiidae

Channidae

Xenocyprididae

One dorsal fin
• Lateral line variable but present
• Cycloid scales.
• Have no true spines in dorsal fin
• Lack teeth in mouth but have 1-3 rows of
teeth on pharyngeal bone used to grind food
(used in some IDs).
• Due to large numbers they vary both
ecologically and mophologically.

plus/minus

parasite

plus/0

commensalism

plus/plus

mutualism, protocooperation

minus/minus

amensalism

0/0

neutralism

countercurrent exchange system

allows fish to take in more oxygen. It is why water temp. indicates body temp.

Fishes

free living, aquatic, cold blooded, gill breathing craniates in which fins and not pentadactyl limbs are developed.

pentadactyl

five fingered

Agnatha, Chrondricthyes, Osteichthys

three classes of fish

Walking catfish

aquatic exception

Lamprey

Free living exception

lungfish

gill breathing exceptions

coelacanth

Exception to fins instead of pentadactyl limbs

Ammocoetes

Lamprey larvae

Pediaphage

an animal that eats babies