Class Osteichthyes

COLORATION Iridophores and chromatophores: pigment cells Iridophores and chromatophores: pigment cells Helps in species recognition for mating and territory Helps in species recognition for mating and territory Parrotfish

WARNING COLORATION Bright coloration alerts others that the fish is dangerous, poisonous, venomous or tastes bad. Bright coloration alerts others that the fish is dangerous, poisonous, venomous or tastes bad. Garibaldi Lionfish

CRYPTIC COLORATION May change color to blend in with surroundings May change color to blend in with surroundings Example: Flounder Example: Flounder Flounder

FROGFISH

DISRUPTIVE COLORATION Presence of bars, stripes, or false eye spots. Presence of bars, stripes, or false eye spots.

MIMICRY look like another animal look like another animal Marine Betta Spotted Moray Batfish Flatworm

COUNTERSHADING Light on the bottom, dark on the top Light on the bottom, dark on the top Great White Shark

TAILS Rounded: Rounded: Forked: Forked: Lunate: Lunate: Damsel Tuna

BODY SHAPE (adapted to environment) Laterally Compressed Dorsal/Ventrally Compressed

FUSIFORM Very fast Very fast Hydrodynamic Hydrodynamic

ODD SHAPES Trunkfish Sea Horse Puffer fish

PELAGIC FISH ADAPTATIONS 1.Fusiform body = Hydrodynamic 2.Silver or countershading 3.Forked tail = FAST 4.Large pectoral fins 5.Finlets 6.Keel Mola Flying FishTuna Barracuda

CORAL REEF ADAPTATIONS 1.Laterally compressed or odd body shapes 2.Disruptive or warning coloration 3.Moderate to fast swimmers Moray Eel Grouper Trumpet Fish Boxfish Butterfly Fish

BENTHIC ADAPTATIONS 1.Flattened body 2.Cryptic coloration 3.Superior mouth 4.Superior eyes 5.Moderate to slow swimmers Flounder Sea Robin Stargazer Sculpin

NIGHT ADAPTATIONS 1.Pale red to reddish brown 2.2. Large eyes (tapetum lucidum) 3.May bioluminesce Cardinalfish Bigeye Squirrelfish Soldierfish

REPRODUCTION Most fish spawn: external fertilization Most fish spawn: external fertilization Anadromous: spawn in fresh water, spend life in salt (salmon) Anadromous: spawn in fresh water, spend life in salt (salmon) Catadromous: spawn in salt water, spend life in fresh (European eel) Catadromous: spawn in salt water, spend life in fresh (European eel) Oviparous or Viviparous Oviparous or Viviparous Many fish are hermaphrodites: possess both ovaries and testes Many fish are hermaphrodites: possess both ovaries and testes

SCHOOLING Protection, safety in numbers, confuses predators Protection, safety in numbers, confuses predators Finding mates and food Finding mates and food

COELACANTH: Fossil Fish Lobed-finned fish. Lobed-finned fish. Thought to be extinct, but discovered off the coast of Sri Lanka in early part of 20 th century. Thought to be extinct, but discovered off the coast of Sri Lanka in early part of 20 th century. Living fossil fish Living fossil fish

WHALE SHARK Largest Fish (up to 50ft.) Largest Fish (up to 50ft.)

SAILFISH Fastest fish; may swim up to 70 mph Fastest fish; may swim up to 70 mph

Paedocypris progenetica: World’s Smallest Fish World’s Smallest Fish 7.9 mm (.31in) 7.9 mm (.31in) Lives in forest swamps of Sumatra Lives in forest swamps of Sumatra

Vocabulary Nocturnal: Hunts at night Nocturnal: Hunts at night Diurnal: Hunts during the day Diurnal: Hunts during the day Crepuscular: Hunts at dawn and dusk Crepuscular: Hunts at dawn and dusk