Where are we Taxonomically? Subdivision: Euteleostei Superorder: Acanthopterygii Series: Percomorpha Order: Perciformes

Percomorpha, part II Suborder Percoidei continued… Toxotidae: archerfishes Pomacanthidae: angelfishes Haemulidae: grunts Haemaleos = bloody (G) pom (G) = opercle (cover) acanth = spine toxo (G) = bow

(Suborder) Labroidei Percomorpha, part II Cichlidae: cichlids Pomacentridae: damselfishes Poma- = opercle, centron = spine (G) (refers to pointed margin of opercle) More than 1300 species, tremendous diversity in morpholgy and ecology Many are convergent with centrarchids Look for single nostril and distinctive broken lateral line

(Suborder) Labroidei Labridae: wrasses Scaridae: parrotfishes Percomorpha, part II labrum = lip or edge (L) Latin, sacrus = a fish described by ancient writers; Derived from Greek, skairo = to jump; due to the legendary jumps and tail bumps, very well known by ancient fishers

Blennioidei Blenniidae: combtooth blennies Percomorpha, part II Gobiesocoidei Gobiesocidae: clingfishes blennos = similar to mucus; also a kind of fish applied to a species of ray. (g) gobius = goby (l) + esox = nursery of salmon (g)

Gobioidei Gobiidae: gobies Percomorpha, part II Acanthuroidei Ephippidae: spadefishes ephippium = Saddle, similar in shape to a depression of the sphenoid bone

Percomorpha, part II Acanthuroidei Acanthuridae: surgeonfishes Siganidae: rabbitfishes siganus = rabbit fish, by the similarity of the nose (L) akantha = thorn + oura = tail (G)

Scombroidei Sphyraenidae: barracudas Greek, sphyraina = a fish similar to an iron pin, a pike like fish Percomorpha, part II Trichiuridae: cutlassfishes Scombridae: mackerels, tunas scomber = mackerel (L) trich (G) = hair ur (G) = tail

Scombroidei Istiophoridae: billfishes Percomorpha, part II istion = sail + pherein = to carry (G) Premaxilla and nasal bones produced, forming a spear-like bill or rostrum with a rounded cross-section. Gill membranes not united to isthmus. Very narrow pelvic fins. Jaw teeth present. Two keels on each side of caudal peduncle in adults. Dorsal fin extending over much of body length, sometimes resembling a sail. Dorsal fin can be depresssed into a groove. Lateral line persists in life. Vertebrae 24. Maximum length 4 m.

Anabantoidei Gouramis: Belontiidae/ Osphronemidae Percomorpha, part II Pelvic fins have elongated ray osphra, -as = smell + nema = filament (G)

Pleuronectiformes pleuro (G) = side, nect (L) = bound Percomorpha, part II Soleidae: Soles Pleuronectidae: right-eye flounders Bothidae: left-eye flounders Cynoglossidae: tongue fishes cyno (G) = dog, gloss (G) = tongue

Tetraodontiformes Balistidae: triggerfishes (balist = catapult) Percomorpha, part II Ostraciidae: box fishes, cowfishes, trunkfishes ostrac (G) = shell

Tetraodontiformes Percomorpha, part II Tetraodontidae: puffers tetr (G) = four odont (G) = teeth Diodontidae: porcupinefishes, burrfishes

Tetraodontiformes Percomorpha, part II Molidae: ocean sunfishes mola = millstone, by the shape of this fish

Sapelo Island