Ichthyology
“jawed fishes” Class Chondrichthyes- cartilagenous Subclass Elasmobranchii- sharks, rays, and skates Subclass Holocephali- chimeras & ratfishes Class Osteichthyes- bony fishes Subclass Dipnoi- lung fishes Subclass Crossopterygii- coelocanth Subclass Actinopterygii- modern bony fishes
Class Chondrichthyes: (Cartilaginous Fishes) general diagnostic characters: reduced dermal armor cartilaginous endoskeleton & girdles tricuspid teeth gill slits fins: two dorsal, no anal, stiff pectorals, flexible pelvic heterocercal tail
Cartilaginous Skeleton
Manta Ray
Sharks
Sting Ray
Class Osteichthyes: “bony fishes” most abundant and diverse vertebrates >21,000 species bony scales (enlarged in the head region) operculum covering the gills stream-lined; laterally compressed ossified endoskeleton; secondarily lost in some species
“bony fish”
Fish Diversity
Smallmouth Bass
Green Sunfish
Channel Catfish
Oklahoma Non-game Fish