1. Class: Osteichthyes 23,000 species
Notes:Bony Fish
Class: Osteichthyes
23,000 species

2. Basic Facts
Have a swim bladder which can be inflated or deflated to change position in the water.
They have a terminal mouth.
The gills are covered by an operculum (gill covering).
Oviparous, external fertilization.

3. Oxygen exchange

4. Body Shape the body plan of a fish directly relates to its lifestyle.
1. Streamlined – fast swimmers
2. Laterally flattened – bottom dweller
Tuna
Flounder

5. Body Shape, cont’d 3. Eel-like bodies-live among rocks or vegetation
4. Vertical plane fish – sea horse (slow swimming)
Morea eel
Yellow Sea horse

6. Coloration
colored pigments are found in special cells called chromatophores.
1. Warning coloration – using color to advertise that you are dangerous. (lionfish spines )
2. Cryptic coloration – blending with the environment to deceive predators. (Rockfish)

7. Coloration, cont’d.
3. Disruptive coloration – the presence of color, stripes, bars or spots to break up the outline of a fish.
4. Countershading – light on the bottom/dark on top