Fish test

Major Taxa for Vertebrates

The primary groups of vertebrates include Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals.

Three Main Classes of Fish

Agnatha (Jawless fish), Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous fish), Osteichthyes (Bony fish).

Agnatha

Jawless fish; no jaws or paired fins, cartilage skeleton.

Chondrichthyes

Cartilaginous fish; have jaws and paired fins, but lack a swim bladder.

Osteichthyes

Bony fish; have jaws, paired fins, and a skeleton made of bone.

Gills in Fish Classes

Agnatha has simple gill openings, Chondrichthyes have exposed gill slits, and Osteichthyes have gills covered by an operculum.

Buoyancy in Agnatha

Agnatha do not have a swim bladder and many are bottom-dwellers.

Buoyancy in Chondrichthyes

Chondrichthyes maintain buoyancy using oil in the liver.

Buoyancy in Osteichthyes

Osteichthyes use a swim bladder filled with gas for buoyancy control.

Fish Class with Most Species

Osteichthyes has over 30,000 species, making it the class with the most species.

Energy Efficiency in Elasmobranchs

Sharks use oil for buoyancy and have a lighter cartilaginous skeleton for less energy expenditure.

Movement Adaptations of Bony Fish

Bony fish move using side-to-side tail motion controlled by body muscles.

Camouflage in Open Ocean Fish

Open ocean fish utilize countershading to blend into their environment.

Types of Fish Scales

Agnatha have no scales, Chondrichthyes have placoid scales, and Osteichthyes have cycloid or ctenoid scales.

Fish Reproduction - Spawning

External fertilization method where eggs are released into the water.

Oviparous

Reproduction mode where eggs hatch outside the body.

Extrinsic Senses in Sharks

Sharks possess highly developed senses including electroreception to locate prey.

Human Impact on Fish

Human activities like overfishing, pollution, and climate change adversely affect fish populations.

Largest Fish

The Whale Shark is the largest fish, reaching approximately 40 feet.

Clupeiformes

A group of schooling fish which includes herring, sardines, and anchovies.

Defense Mechanism of Clupeiformes

Schooling behavior is used to confuse predators.