Fish

What are the primary functions of fish scales?

Protection and aiding in hydrodynamics.

What role does mucous play in fish physiology?

Acts as a protective cuticle against bacteria and fungi.

How do fish use their gills?

Fish breathe water using gills; oxygen is absorbed while carbon dioxide and ammonia are exhaled.

What is the purpose of the operculum in fish?

It covers and protects the gills from physical damage.

What is unique about the blood circulatory system in fish?

Fish have a two-chambered heart consisting of one atrium and one ventricle.

How do teleost fish regulate buoyancy?

Using a swim bladder to allow neutral buoyancy and help with movement in water.

What is the function of the pyloric caeca in fish?

Increases surface area of digestive epithelium and may secrete enzymes.

What distinguishes the digestive tract of herbivores from carnivores in fish?

Herbivores have a much longer GI tract than carnivores.

How do freshwater and marine fish manage osmoregulation?

Freshwater fish actively reabsorb ions, while marine fish excrete ions.

What are some reproductive strategies used by fish?

Some fish are hermaphrodites, use internal fertilization, and engage in external fertilization with variable gestation periods.

What is the significance of the lateral line in fish?

It detects pressure changes, sounds, and currents in water.

What role does the swim bladder play besides buoyancy?

It aids in sound detection, communication, and mating.

What type of scales do teleosts have?

Ctenoid or cycloid scales, which have growth rings and variations in shape.

Which part of the fish's anatomy helps in balancing?

The labyrinth organ.

How do fish expel nitrogenous waste?

They excrete it as ammonia from their gills, not as urea through kidneys.

What are myomeres in fish?

Blocks of muscle that facilitate movement.

What identifies male fish in certain species?

The presence of a gonadopodium, a copulatory organ.

What is the protective layer covering a fish's body?

Scales

What substance covers fish scales for additional protection?

Mucous (glycocalyx)

What structure protects a fish's gills?

Operculum

What sensory organ runs along the side of a fish?

Lateral line

What are the muscle blocks arranged on either side of a fish's axial skeleton called?

Myomeres

What organ allows fish to maintain neutral buoyancy?

Swim bladder

How many chambers does a fish's heart have?

2 (one atrium, one ventricle)

What is the main function of the gills in fish?

Respiration and excretion

What percentage of ammonia is excreted through fish gills?

75%

What type of blood cells do fish have that mammals don't?

Nucleated red blood cells

What structure in fish increases the surface area of the digestive epithelium?

Pyloric caecum

How do marine fish maintain osmotic balance?

By actively excreting ions through gills, kidneys, and gut

What are the two main types of scales found in teleost fish?

Ctenoid and cycloid scales

What unique feature do fish bones have compared to other vertebrates?

Presence of acellular bone

What is the function of the lateral line in fish?

Detecting pressure, sounds, and currents in water

How do some fish produce sounds for communication?

Using their swim bladder

What is the copulatory organ in male fish called?

Gonadopodium

What are the two main types of fertilization in fish?

Internal and external

What is the process of releasing eggs and sperm into water called?

Spawning

What is the range of gestation periods in fish?

28-114 days

What is a common site for bacterial infections in fish?

Skin and gills

What is a frequent cause of swim bladder problems in aquarium fish?

Compression by other organs or bacterial infection

How do fish excrete nitrogenous waste?

As ammonia through the gills

What is a common method for aging fish?

Counting growth rings on scales

What structure in fish is used for sonar detection of shoals?

Swim bladderHow do fish excrete nitrogenous waste?

What is a common method for aging fish?

Counting growth rings on scales

What structure in fish is used for sonar detection of shoals?

Swim bladder