BIOL 465: Fish Diversity Taxa

Class Conodonta

conodonts (extinct)

Name origin: from Greek kōnos = “cone” + odous (odont-) = “tooth” → “cone tooth”

ostracoderms

Name origin:from Greek ostrakon = “shell” + derma = “skin” → “shell-skinned” or “armored skin”

4 extinct classes

Class Myxini

Name origin:from Greek myxa = “slime” → “slime fish”

hagfish

Infraphylum Vertebrata

vertebrates

Class Petromyzontida

Name origin: petra = “rock” + myzo = “to suck” → “rock-suckers”

lampreys

Superclass Gnathostomata

Name origin: gnathos = “jaw” + stoma = “mouth” → “jaw-mouths”

jawed vertebrates

Class placodermi

Name origin: plax (placos) = “plate” + derma = “skin” → “plate-skinned” (armored fish)

placoderms (extinct)

Class Chondrichthyes

Name origin: chondros = “cartilage” + ichthys = “fish” → “cartilage fish”

cartilaginous fishes

Infraclass Elasmobranchii

Name origin: elasmos = “plate” or “thin metal sheet” + branchia = “gills” → “plate-gilled”

living sharks and rays

Division Selachii

Name origin: selachos = “shark” → literally “sharks”

sharks

Superorder Galeomorphi

Name origin: galeos = “shark” + morphē = “form” → “shark-shaped” or “shark form”

galeomorph sharks

Order heterodontiformes

Name origin: heteros = “different” + odous (odont-) = “tooth” + -formes = “having the form of” → “different-toothed form

bullhead sharks (horn sharks)

Key traits:

• 9 species

• 2 dorsal fins with spines; blunt head; crests above eyes; up to 1 m long
  • heterodont teeth (graspers & grinders): eat hard-shelled invertebrates
  • oviparous: screw-shaped keratin egg cases

Order Orectolobiformes

Name origin: orektos = “stretched out” + lobos = “lobe” + -formes = “form” → “stretched-lobed form” (referring to lobed nasal flaps or fins)

carpet sharks (wobbegongs, zebra sharks, angel sharks, nurse sharks)

Key Traits:

• 44 species

• 2 dorsal fins without spines; prominent spiracles; most w/ barbels (sensory whiskers)
  • broad size range & diets: filter feeding, suction feeding, etc.
  • mostly ovoviviparous; some oviparous

Order Lamniformes

Name origin: lamna = “fish of prey, shark” + -formes = “form” → “lamnid-form” or “predatory shark form”

mackerel sharks (great whites, mako sharks, thresher sharks, porbeagle, goblin sharks)

Key Traits:

• 15 species

• cosmopolitan marine, 2 dorsal fins without spines, large mouth, ovoviviparous 

Family Lamnidae

Name origin: lamna = “fish of prey, shark”

mackerel sharks

Order Carcharhiniformes

Name origin: karcharos = “sharp” + rhinos = “nose” + -formes = “form” → “sharp-nosed form” (ground sharks)

ground sharks (tiger sharks, blue sharks, hammerheads, bull sharks, cat sharks)

Key Traits:

• >280 species

• cosmopolitan marine, 2 dorsal fins without spines, anal fin, nictitating eye membrane, various reproductive modes 

Family Carcharhinidae

Name origin: karcharos + rhinos → “sharp-nosed”

requiem sharks

Superorder Squalomorphi

Name origin: squalus = “shark” + Greek morphē = “form” → “shark-form”

squalomorph sharks

Order Hexanchiformes

Name origin: hexa = “six” + anchos (from branchia) = “gill” + -formes → “six-gilled form”

6 and 7 gill sharks

Key Traits:

• 6 species

• continental slopes

• 6-7 gill slits, 1 dorsal fin without spine set back, anal fin present, ovoviviparous 

Order Squaliformes

Name origin: squalus = “shark” + -formes = “form” → “shark form”

dogfish sharks

Key Traits:

• 120 species

• global, mostly deep sea (photophores), 2 dorsal fins ± spines, anal fin absent, ovoviviparous 

Family Squalidae

Name origin: squalus = “shark”

Dogfish sharks

Division Batomorpha

Name origin: batos = “ray” + morphē = “form” → “ray form”

rays

Order Torpediniformes

Name origin: torpedo = “numbness” or “paralysis” (from the electric shock) + -formes = “form” → “electric-ray form”

electric rays

Key Traits: 

• 65 species

• continental shelves and slopes, strong electric organs, no scales, 1-2 dorsal fins, well developed caudal fin, eat mostly fish (electrocute prey) ovoviviparous

Order Rajiformes 

Name origin: raia = “skate” + -formes = “form” → “skate form”

skates

Key Traits: 

• 287 species

• global shallow to deep, weak electric organs in narrow tail, row of thorns, 0-2 dorsal fins, eat soft bottom invertebrates oviparous with keratin egg case

Order Pristiformes

Name origin: pristis = “sawfish” (from prion, “saw”) + -formes = “form” → “sawfish form”

guitarfish and sawfish

Key Traits:

• 63 species 

• tropical to temperate estuaries and coasts, intermediate body plan, 2 dorsal fins, heterocercal caudal, eat invertebrates and fish, ovoviviparous 

Order Myliobatiformes

Name origin: “millstone” (flat shape) + batis = “ray” + -formes = “form” → “millstone-ray form” (refers to broad, flat bodies)

stingrays and mantas

Key traits:

• 220 species

• cosmopolitan including freshwater, no (or reduced) dorsal fin, very thin tail (often barbed), eat mostly benthic invertebrates

Subclass Holocephali

Name origin: holos = “whole” + kephalē = “head” → “whole head” (refers to fused upper jaw)

ratfish/chimera

Key traits:

• 50-60 species

• holostylic jaw suspension, upper jaw is fused to the braincase, have a single gill slit covered by an operculum. 

Grade Teleostomi

Name origin: teleos = “complete, perfect” + stoma = “mouth” → “complete mouth”

teleostomes

Class Acanthodii

Name origin: akantha = “spine, thorn” + -odes = “like” → “spiny ones”

acanthodians (extinct)

Class Osteichthyes

Name origin: osteon = “bone” + ichthys = “fish” → “bony fish”

bony fishes

Subclass Actinopterygii

Name origin: aktis (actin-) = “ray” + pteryx = “fin” or “wing” → “ray-fin”

ray-finned fish

Key traits:

• >30,500 species

• Scales ganoid, cycloid, ctenoid (or absent), brachiostegal rays usually present, swim bladders or lungs, ossified vertebrae

Infraclass Cladistia

Name origin: klados = “branch” → “branch-like” (refers to their lobed fins)

bichirs and reedfish

Key traits:

• 14 species

• ganoid scales, 5-18 dorsal finlets, ‘lungs’ (can breathe air), lobed pectorals, spiracles, maxilla fused to skull, spiral valve, no branchiostegals, 2 gular plates 

Infraclass Chondrostei

Name origin: chondros = “cartilage” + osteon = “bone” → “cartilage-bone” (partly cartilaginous skeleton)

paddlefishes and sturgeons

Key traits:

• 2 specialized relic families

• heterocercal caudal, spiracles, secondarily cartilaginous skeletons, spiral valve intestine

Infraclass Holostei

Name origin: holos = “whole” + osteon = “bone” → “whole bone” (entirely bony skeleton)

gars and bowfin

Key traits: 

• lepisosteiformes and amiiformes 

Division Teleostei

Name origin: teleos = “complete” + osteon = “bone” → “completely bony” (modern bony fishes)

derived fin fishes

Key traits: 

• 96% of all extant fish 

• increased feeding efficiency and maneuverability 

Cohort Elopomorpha

Name origin: lops = “kind of fish” (often used for eels or serpentlike fish) + morphē = “form” → “elops-form”

usually many brachiostegal rays, maxilla in gape, diagnostic leptocephalus larva

Order Elopiformes

Name origin: → “elops form”

tenpounders and ladyfishes

Key traits:

• 9 spp

• mostly marine, terminal mouth, gular plate, leptocephalus tail, fin forked, heavy scales, carnivores

Order Abuliformes

Name origin: albus = “white” + -formes = “form” → “white-fish form”

bonefishes

Key traits:

• 20 spp

• marine, tropical, subterminal mouths, gular plate small or absent, leptocephalus tail, fin forked, heavy scales, carnivores, gamefishes

Order Anguilliformes

Name origin: anguilla = “eel” + -formes = “form” → “eel form”

eels

Key traits:

• 940 species

• mostly marine, global, no gular plate, no scales, no pelvic fin, carnivores, leptocephalus tail round or pointed

Family Muraenidae

Name origin: muraena = “moray eel” → “moray eels”

moray eels

Key traits:

• 215 spp, 42 spp in Hawaii

• tropical and temperate, small round gill openings, neuromast on head only, no pectorals, nostril tubes, teeth sharp or molarform

Family Ophichthidae

Name origin: ophis = “snake” + ichthys = “fish” → “snake fish”

snake and worm eels

Key traits:

• 320 spp, 16 in Hawaii

• tropical and warm temperate, coastal, complete lateral line, pectorals present or absent, many brachiostegals, pointed head and stiffened tail, burrow in sand 

Family Congridae

Name origin: gongros = “eel” → “conger eels”

conger and garden eels

Key traits: 

• 200 spp, 4 in Hawaii

• tropical and temperate, coastal, complete lateral line, pectorals usually present

Cohort Osteoglossomorpha

Name origin: osteon = “bone” + glossa = “tongue” + morphē = “form” → “bony-tongue form”

Name origin:

• freshwater

• 2 orders

Order Osteoglossiformes

Name origin:“bony-tongue form”

bony tongues

Key traits:

• 244 spp

• mainly south america and africa, teeth on tongue bones, premaxilla small and fused to skull, 1 ovary, mostly carnivores

Cohort Otocephala

Name origin: ous (ot-) = “ear” + kephalē = “head” → “ear-head” (refers to ear–swim bladder connection)

otocephalans

Key traits:

• 7 orders

• marine and freshwater, global, swimbladder inner ear connection 

Order Clupeiformes

Name origin: clupea = “herring” + -formes = “form” → “herring form”

clupeiformes

Key traits: 

• 400 spp

• paired swimbladder extensions connect directly to inner ear, no lateral line, no fin spines, single dorsal fin, caudal fin usually forked, mostly schooling planktivores

Family Clupeidae

Name origin: clupea = “herring” → “herrings, sardines”

herrings, menhadens, pilchards, sardines, shads, sprats

Key traits:

• 218 spp, 4 in Hawaii

• shorter jaws, terminal mouth

Family Engraulidae

Name origin: engraulis = “anchovy” → “anchovies”

anchovies, anchovetas

Key traits:

• 146 spp, 2 in Hawaii 

• elongated jaws, subterminal mouth 

Superorder Ostariosphysi

Name origin: ostarion = “small bone” + physa = “bladder” → “small-bone bladder” (refers to Weberian apparatus linking ear and swim bladder)

Name origin:

• 5 orders, 10400 spp, 68% of freshwater species

• dominate freshwater, weberian apparatus bone series, connects swim bladder to ear, most species release alarm substance when skin injured 

Order Gonorynchiformes

Name origin: gonia = “angle” + rhynchos = “snout” + -formes = “form” → “angled-snout form”

milkfishes

Key traits: 

• 37 spp, 1 in Hawaii (family Chanidae)

• marine and brackish water, lateral line present, no fin spines, single dorsal fin, caudal fin deeply forked, mostly herbivores 

Order Cypriniformes

Name origin: kyprinos = “carp” + -formes = “form” → “carp form”

carps and relatives

Key traits:

• 4,450 spp

• freshwater, 3 brachiostegal rays, head usually scaleless, jaws toothless, jaws usually protrusible, no adipose fin, omnivores

Family Cyprinidae 

Name origin: kyprinos = “carp” → “carps”

barbel, bitterling, bleak, bream, carp,
chub, dace, goldfish, gudgeon, labeo, minnow, riffle dace, roach, roach, rudd, shiner, tench

Key traits:

• 1,795 spp

• first to evolve pharyngeal teeth, maxilla excluded from gape, protrusible jaws, pelvics abdominal

Order Siluriformes

Name origin: silurus = “catfish” + -formes = “form” → “catfish form”

catfishes

Key traits: 

• 4,100 spp

• mostly freshwater, 1-4 pairs of barbels, # brachiostegal rays vary, most gave adipose fin, jaws not protrusible, some with venomous spines, reduced # of head bones, mostly benthic omnivores

Order Gymnotiformes

Name origin: gymnos = “naked” + noton = “back” + -formes = “form” → “naked-back form” (refers to scaleless, eel-like knifefishes)

South American knifefishes, electric eel

Key traits:

• 256 spp

• freshwater, 2-5 brachiostegal rays, no scales, jaws toothless, eel like body, swim with elongated anal fin, no pelvic/dorsal/adipose fins, produce and detect electrical impulses, generalized carnivores

Cohort Euteleostei

Name origin: eu = “true” + teleos = “complete” + osteon = “bone” → literally “true complete-boned fish”

euteleosteans

Key traits:

• 50 orders, marine and freshwater, monophyly suggested by skeletal structures

Superorder Procanthopterygii

Name origin: protos = “first” + akantha = “spine” + pteryx = “fin” → “first spiny fin”

salmon, pikes, smelts, various deep sea fish

Order Salmoniformes

Name origin: salmo = “salmon” + -formes = “form” → “salmon form”

salmon, etc.

Family Salmonidae

Name origin: salmo = “salmon” → “salmon family”

salmon, trout, etc

Key traits:

• 223 spp

• freshwater and anadromous, adipose, pelvic axillary process, no spiny fin rays, gill membranes free from isthmus, physotomous swim bladder, mostly cycloid scales 

Order Stomiiformes 

Name origin: stoma = “mouth” + -formes = “form” → “mouth form” (refers to large-mouthed deep-sea fishes)

various deep sea fishes: dragonfish, hatchetfish, viperfish, bristlemouths, lightfishes

Key traits:

• 414 spp

• teeth on maxilla and premaxilla, cycloid scales or scaleless, photophores

Superorder Scopelomorpha

Name origin: skopelos = “a kind of fish” (used for lanternfish-like species) + morphē = “form” → “scopelus form”

scopelomorphs

Key traits:

• 1 order

Order Myctophiformes

Name origin: mykter = “nose” + ophis or phos (“light” depending on interpretation) + -formes = “form” → most likely “light-bearing form”

myctophiforms

Key traits:

• 260 families

• ancestral- adipose fin, usually cycloid scales, derived - maxilla excluded from gape 

Family myctopidae

Name origin: myctophos = “light-bearer” → (bioluminescent fish)

lanternfishes

Key traits: 

• >250 spp

• global mesopelagic, many small photophores, dark to silvery body, schooling planktivores, diel vertical migration, major prey fish 

Superorder Lamprimorpha

Name origin:

Key traits:

• 1 order

Order lampriformes

Name origin: lampros = “bright, shining” + morphē = “form” → “bright form” (refers to the metallic sheen of opahs and oarfishes)

oarfishes, opah, etc.

Key traits:

no true fin spines, maxilla excluded from gape, mouth protrusible, tropical and temperate epipelagic planktivores

Superorder Paracanthopterygii

Name origin: para = “beside” + akantha = “spine” + pteryx = “fin” → “beside the spiny fins” (near relatives of spiny-finned fishes)

paracanthopterygians

Key traits:

• 5 orders

Order Gadiformes

Name origin: gadus = “codfish” + -formes = “form” → “cod form”

cods, pollocks, hakes, rattails, etc

Key points:

global temperate marine, pelvics below or in front of pectorals (or absent), no spines, scales usually cycloid, maxilla excluded from gape, swim bladder physoclistic (not connected to the digestive tract)

Family Macrouidae

Name origin: makros = “long” + oura = “tail” → “long-tail” (rattails)

rattails/grenadiers

Key traits:

• 405 spp

• global deep seafloors, large head with tapering bodies, 1st dorsal with spine like soft ray, followed by short elongated 2nd dorsal, elongated anal fin, some with barbel and photophores, carnivores

Family Gadidae

Name origin: gadus = “cod” → “cod family”

cod, haddock, whiting, pollock

Key points:

• 25 spp

• 1-3 dorsal fins, 1-2 anal fins, pelvics (often jugular), most have barbels, dermersal carnivores

Superorder Acanthopterygii

Name origin: akantha = “spine” + pteryx = “fin” → “spiny fin”

spiny finned fishes

Key points:

• ~17,000 spp

• two major feeding innovations: jaw mobility/protrusion, pharyngeal jaw and tooth diversity 

• physoclistous swimbladder

• pectoral fins high and vertical

• 2 dorsal fins

• at least one spine on anal fin

• symmetrical caudal fin with fused basal elements

Order Beryciformes

Name origin: beryx = “a kind of red sea fish” + -formes = “form” → “beryx form”

bigscales, alfonsinos, whalefishes, gibberfishes, pricklefishes

Key traits:

• 104 spp

• global tropical temperate, mostly deep sea, planktivores and carnivores

• weak/absent fish spines, reduced centoid like scales, some have photophoresglobal temperate marine, pelvics below or in front of pectorals (or absent), no spines, scales usually cycloid, maxilla excluded from gape, swim bladder physoclistic (not connected to the digestive tract)

Order Holocentriformes

Name origin: holos = “whole” + kentron = “spine” or “sting” + -formes = “form” → “whole-spined form”

squirrelfishes and soldierfishes

Key traits:

• 90 spp, 15 in Hawaii

• global coral reefs, dorsal divided by notch, forked caudal, 1 pelvic spine, 4 anal spines, rough centoid scales, large eyes and reddish body

Order Ophidiiformes

Name origin: ophis = “snake” + -formes = “form” → “snake form” (eel-like fishes)

cusk eels

Key traits:

• 558 species

• pectoral fins high and vertical, pelvic fins under head or absent, long dorsal and anal fins, carnivores 

Order Mugiliformes

Name origin: mugil = “mullet” + -formes = “form” → “mullet form”

mullets

Key traits:

• Family Mugilidae

• 80 spp, 2 in Hawaii

• shallow tropical temperate marine and brackish, widely separated 4 spine dorsal and soft dorsal, cycloid-ish scales, pectorals high on body

• pelvics subdominal, lateral line pores diffuse, teeth small or absent, long gill rakers, muscular gizzard

Order Antheriniformes

Name origin: athēr = “spike” or athērina = “a small silvery fish” + -formes = “form” → “silverside form”

atheriniformes

Key traits:

• 382 spp (half freshwater)

• dorsal fins flexible and usually separated, pectorals usually high on body, pelvics abdominal

• lateral line reduced or absent

Family Atherinidae

Name origin: athērina = “a small silvery fish”

old world silversides

Key traits:

• body translucent with silvery lateral stripe

• schooling planktivores

Order Beloniformes

Name origin: belone = “needle” + -formes = “form” → “needle form”

beloniformes

Key traits:

• 286 spp

• mouth not protrusible, lower caudal lobe often extended

• silvery near surface dwellers

Family Belonidae

Name origin: belone = “needle”

needlefishes

Key traits:

• 44 spp, 4 in Hawaii

• epipelagic oceanic to coastal/freshwater

• sharp needlelike teeth, elongated jaw, dorsal and anal fins set back

Family Hemiramphidae

Name origin: hemi- = “half” + ramphos = “beak” → “half-beak”

halfbeaks

Key points:

• 61 spp, 2 in Hawaii

• epipelagic coastal/ few freshwater

• elongated lower jaw only, smaller teeth, dorsal and anal fin set back

• no stomach, pharyngeal mill

Family Exocoetidae

Name origin: exo = “outside” + koite = “bed” (but here coetus means “to lie” or “rest”) — however, Exocoetus literally means “sleeping outside (the sea)”

flyingfishes

Key traits:

• 74 spp, 9 in Hawaii

• epipelagic oceanic to coastal, unique jaw protrusion

• elongated pectorals that allow for gliding propelled by asymmetrical caudal

• schooling planktivores, attatch eggs to floating objects

Order Cyprinodontiformes 

Name origin: kyprinos = “carp” + odous (odont-) = “tooth” + -formes = “form” → “carp-tooth form”

topminnows, killifishes, pupfishes, livebearers

Key traits:

• 1,424 spp

• global (mostly freshwater), dorsal and caudal often set back

• caudal truncated or rounded, pectorals low on body, pelvics may be absent

• lateral line mostly on head

Subseries Percomorpha

Name origin: “perch” + Greek morphē = “form” → “perch form”

Key points:

• 8 orders

• most derived fishes

• mostly marine, each pelvic fin with 1 fin and 5 soft rays

• anteriorly placed pelvic girdle connected to pectoral girdle by ligament

Order Gasterosteiformes

Name origin: gastēr = “stomach” + osteon = “bone” + -formes = “form” → “stomach-bone form” (refers to bony plates along the belly)

gasterosteiforms

Key traits:

• 26 spp

• mostly freshwater, dermal armor plates

• dorsal and anal often posterior

• small mouths, eat small invertebrates

Family Gasterosteidae

Name origin: “stomach-boned”

sticklebacks

Key traits:

• 16 spp

• temperate zone, marine but some freshwater 

• carnivorous

• isolated spines in their dorsal fins, no scales 

Order Syngnathiformes

Name origin: syn = “together” + gnathos = “jaw” + -formes = “form” → “fused-jaw form”

Snygnathiforms 

Key traits:

• 353 spp

• temperate to tropical marine, small mouth, usually at the end of tubular snout, bony plates 

Family Syngnathidae

Name origin: “fused-jaw family”

seahorses and pipefish

Key traits:

• 322 spp, 9 in Hawaii

• seahorses with elongated tail vs pipefish elongate, dorsal fin propelled

• suction feed zooplankton, sexual roles reversed

Order Aulostomidae

Name origin: aulos = “pipe” + stoma = “mouth” → “pipe-mouth”

trumpetfish

Key traits:

• 3 spp, 1 in Hawaii

• elongate, compressed, posterior dorsal and anal, rounded caudal, chin barbel, stalking piscivore

Family Fistulariidae

Name origin: fistula = “tube, pipe” → “tube fish”

cornetfishes

Key traits:

• 4 spp, 1 in Hawaii

• temperate to tropical coastal marine, small mouth usually at the end of tubular snout, bony plates

Order Scorpaeniformes 

Name origin: scorpaena = “scorpionfish”

scorpaeniforms

Key traits:

• 1,480 spp

• mostly marine, all depths, most with suborbital stay

• spiny head, dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins

• pectorals usually rounded, carnivores

Family Scorpaenidae

Name origin: scorpaena = “scorpionfish”

Scorpionfishes

Key traits:

• 223 spp, 25 in Hawaii

• coastal indian and pacific

• some with venomous dorsal, anal, and pelvic spines

• demersal/benthic and cryptic ambush predators

Family Cottidae

Name origin: cottus = “a kind of small fish”

sculpins

Key traits:

• 294 spp

• not very spiny, relatively depressed, blunt head, tapering body

• gill membrane fused, lack scales

Family Liparidae

Name origin: liparos = “fat, oily, smooth” → “smooth ones”

snailfishes

Key traits:

• 444 spp

• all depths, not spiny, relatively compressed, elongated body, most with fused pelvics

• dorsal-caudal-anal confluent

Order Perciformes

Name origin: perca = “perch” + -formes = “form” → “perch form”

Perch-like fish

Key traits:

• >10,000 spp

• dominate shallow habitats, mostly ctenoid or cycloid scales

• dorsal, anal, pelvic fin spines, pelvics thoracics with 1 spine and 5 or fewer soft rays

• pectoral fins lateral and vertical

• caudal fin rays, maxilla excluded from gape

• swim bladder physoclitstous

Family Serranidae

Name origin: serra = “saw” → “saw-edged” (refers to serrated fin spines)

sea basses, groupers, etc

Key traits:

• 598 spp

• tropical temperate

• most with 33 opercular spines, dorsal continuous, 3 anal spines, pelvic 1 spine + 5 soft rays

• hermaphroditic, carnivores

Family Percidae

Name origin: perca = “perch” → “perch family”

darters, perches, etc

Key traits:

• 242 spp

• freshwater, N. Hemisphere

• mostly separated dorsal fins and 2 anal spines

• pelvic 1 spine + 5 soft rays, insectivores 

Family Apogonidae

Name origin: apogon = “without beard” → “beardless ones” (cardinalfishes lack chin barbels)

cardinalfishes

Key traits: 

• 385 spp

• coral reefs ( few brackish and freshwater)

• separate dorsal fins, 2 anal spines, large eyes

• nocturnal planktivores

Family Echeneidae

Name origin: echein = “to hold” + naus = “ship” → “ship-holder” (remoras cling to ships or sharks)

remoras and sharksuckers

Key points: 

• 8 spp, 4 in Hawaii

• global warm marine

• 1st dorsal modified into sucking disk, superior mouth, no dorsal/anal spines

• no swim bladder (ride on sharks, mantas, marine mammals, turtles)

• eat food scraps and clean hosts 

Family Caragidae

Name origin: carangus = “a fish like a jack” → “jacks and trevallies”

jacks, trevallies, scads, pompanos, etc

Key traits:

• 151 spp, 22 in Hawaii

• compressed silvery body, some with dorsal anal finlets

• 1st dorsal 4-8 spines, 2nd dorsal 1 spin, 3 anal spines

• forced caudal with slender peduncle 

• schooling midwater predators

Family Lutjanidae

Name origin: lutjan = “snapper”

snappers

Key traits:

• 113 spp, 14 in Hawaii

• reefs

• bass-like body with straight forehead profile dorsal continuous or notched

• 3 anal spines, canine teeth, maxilla slips beneath preorbital

Family Haemulidae

Name origin: haimulos = “grunting” → “grunters” (refers to the croaking sound they make)

grunts and sweetlips

Key points:

• 136 spp

• bass-like body with variable forehead profile, eyes larger than snappers

• small mouth and teeth, “grunt by grinding pharyngeal teeth

• nocturnal schooling demersal carnivores

Family Scaienidae

Name origin: skiaena = “sea-fish that makes a sound”

croakers and drums

]

Key points:

• 297 spp

• global coastal marine/brackish/freshwater

• molar like pharyngeal teeth, lateral line extends to end of caudal

• long notched dorsal, swimbladder usually branched with sound producing vibrating muscles