Marine Fishes Marine Fishes Marine Biology Unit #4
Ichthyology Ichthyology 1 st vertebrates; ~500 million years ago ~30,000 species; >all other vertebrates Protein, vitamins, leather, fertilizers 3 major classes: Agnatha – jawless fish Chondrichthyes – cartilagenous fish Osteichthyes – bony fish
Agnatha Lack teeth, feed using a round oral sucker Lack paired fins and scales Lampreys and Hagfish
Agnathans Hagfish – slime eels Produce thick slime Scavengers Feed by boring into food source Lampreys Ectoparasites Freshwater and saltwater
Osteichthyes Skeleton made of bone ~29,000 species; 96% of all fish species Over half of all vertebrate species
Osteichthyes Bony skeleton Gills covered by operculum Terminal mouth Scales made of bone Swim bladder used for bouyancy
Coelacanth (Lobe-finned fish) Fins supported by bones, not rays or spines Bones in lobes are like those of land vertebrates Discovered in 1938 (extinct for 60 million years?)
Coelacanth (Lobe-finned fish)
Lungfish Ancient group of fish that possess a lung Few populations globally
Ray-finned Fish Fins supported by hard and/or soft bony rays Over 99% of all fish species Extreme diversity
Chondrichthyes Skeleton made of cartilage Arose about million years ago Moveable jaws with well-developed teeth Paired (lateral) fins Denticles Sharks Skates Rays
Sharks 350 species that range in size from 10 in. to 50 ft.
Sharks Usually possess : 2 dorsal fins Paired pectoral and pelvic fins 5-7 external gill slits Caudal fin (tail) Homocercal tail - speed Heterocercal tail - power
Sharks Sophisticated sensory system: 2/3 of brain dedicated to smell (nostrils) Lateral line to detect movements in water Ampullae of Lorenzini to detect electricity Eyesight good Ugly?
Sharks Powerful jaws w/ triangular teeth Tooth replacement
Sharks Claspers on males (reproductive organs)
Sharks Hunted for oil, skin, meat, fins We kill ~100,000,000/year
Skates/Rays species;range in size >12” up to 20 ft. Flattened bodies; most live on ocean bottom
Skates/Rays Mouths and gill slits on ventral Eyes and spiracles on dorsal Pectoral fins flattened and expanded into “wings”
Skates
Rays
Osteichthyes vs. Chondrichthyes
Body shapes Fusiform, fast swimmers Laterally compressed Laterally compressed – flatfish Dorsal/ventral compressed Elongate Irregular
Body shapes
Feeding Styles Grazers Pickers Sit & wait gulpers Ambushers Stalkers Attackers Filter feeders
Feeding Styles
Coloration Camouflage Advertisement Warning
Coloration Distruptive
Coloration Countershading
Irrigation of Gills
Schooling Protection Swimming efficiency Finding food Finding a mate