Anatomy of Fishes Hi all, here is a short PowerPoint on fish anatomy that you will likely find a quick perusal of very helpful in writing the “Characteristics” sections of your species accounts for the Utah Fish Project. I am providing this as an aid, specifically meant to help you more accurately describe body shape and fin shape/placement. All of these aspects of fish anatomy are good to highlight when describing fish characteristics. Look through this before writing your accounts. Focus on slides 3 & 4. See if you can identify which of these traits your Utah fish species possess. If you have questions or trouble with this (or find this useful!), me.

(CAUDAL) (CRANIAL) Other terms: proximal, distal, medial, lateral Getting oriented: basic anatomical directions You should already know these terms from previous coursework in biology. This is how we use these terms to describe fishes.

FUSIFORM ANGUILLIFORM DEPRESSIFORM COMPRESSIFORM FILIFORM TAENIFORM SAGITTAFORM GLOBIFORM Terminology: Different types of fish body shapes

ROUNDED TRUNCATEEMARGINATE FORKED LUNATE Terminology: different types of fin shapes

HETEROCERCAL ABBREVIATE HETEROCERCAL HOMOCERCAL ISOCERCAL Fish tail fin bones. BIOL 3700 students, don’t worry about this.

# bones? It depends….