What is a Fish? assets/Fish.jpg

What is a Fish? assets/Fish.jpg Characteristics, features, examples of the animals with fins, gills, and scales

Fish can be described as
Multicellular organisms Organisms which live in fresh, salt or brackish water Heterotrophic Having gills, fins and usually scales Having jaws Exhibiting a skeleton composed of bone or cartilage

Skeleton Fish may have an internal skeleton which consists of bone, cartilage, or a combination bone and cartilage

Jaws: true or lacking? True jaws are lacking in the photo of the fish seen here It is called a round-mouthed fish, or jawless Hagfish and lamprey are classified as Cyclostomata (round mouth) or Agnatha (jawless) Most fish have true jaws

Terminal and ventral mouths
Mouth is considered ventral if located on the belly side of the fish If the mouth is located at the most forward region, it is terminal

Terminal mouth

Ventral mouth

Fins Single fins Dorsal Paired fins Caudal Anal Pectoral fins
Anterior Adipose/Posterior Caudal Anal Paired fins Pectoral fins Pelvic fins

Caudal fin The caudal fin (tail fin) vary tremendously among the fishes of the world. The two major types of caudal fins are Homocercal- top and bottom half are about the same Heterocercal- top portion is much larger than bottom half

Homocercal or heterocercal? Observe each tail and identify the type

Caudal Fin Fish with streamlined bodies and a stiff, crescent-shaped caudal fin or tail, tend to move rapidly through the water by swishing their tail from side to side. This action propels the fish much like sculling (rowing a boat with an oar) propels a boat.

Fish Scales Scales and slime help to protect the fish from other organisms There are four main kinds of scales, and numerous variations of each kind Placoid 1 Cosmoid Ganoid 2 Cycloid and Ctenoid 3 and 4

Scales have a particular feature: they possess concentric patterns looking like the tree rings you can see on cut tree trunks. ...But scales are permanent on fish skin: they don't fall like tree leaves so they can to be used to calculate a fishes age. But fish growth can be irregular (e.g. females stop growing while reproducing...) and a laboratory study of each species is necessary to correlate the rings with real age. If you mount scales on a slide and look through them toward a light source, you can see some iridescence (rainbow colors) because light is diffracted light by the scale rings.

Ctenoid scales Above: sole scale. Below: sea perch.

How old is a fish scale? As cycloid and ctenoid scales increase in size, growth rings called circuli become visible. By counting the annuli it is possible to estimate the age of the fish. These rings look a little like the growth rings in the trunk of a tree. During the cooler months of the year the scale grows more slowly and the circuli are closer together leaving a dark band called an annulus.

Other facts about scales
Can a fish have more than one type of scale? Yes. Some species of flatfishes (flounders, soles, etc) have ctenoid scales on the eyed side of the body and cycloid scales on the blind side. Can scale type vary with sex? Yes. In some species of flatfishes (flounders, soles, etc) the males have ctenoid scales and the females have cycloid scales.

Body shapes of fish Fusiform (torpedo-shaped)
Depressed dorso-ventrally Compressed laterally Elongated, eel-like Globiform, spherically shaped Truncate

Fusiform Torpedo-shaped

Depressed Dorso-ventrally flattened Top to bottom

Elongate Eel-like, long body Also, Strong jaws Muscular Continuous fin

Compressed Laterally flattened side to side

Globiform Spherical Looks like a ball

Truncate Triangular

Markings and coloring of fish
Counter-shading Spotted Striped Banded Barred “See me”

Nurse Shark The upper surface of the body is yellow-brown to gray-brown. The remainder of body is a lighter shade of the same color.

Striped Hawaiian Squirrelfish
Hawaiian Squirrelfish Distribution: Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston AtollRemarks: This is the most abundant squirrelfish on Hawaiian coral reefs. Squirrelfishes are nocturnal; spending the daylight hours in caves and emerging at night to forage for prey. Hawaiian Squirrelfish

See Me!! photo courtesy of Richard L. Pyle Pseudanthias hawaiiensis
Hawaiian Longfin Anthias Distribution: Endemic to the Hawaiian IslandsRemarks: Found most frequently in deeper waters around the Hawaiian Islands, this fish impresses the observer with its delicate long pelvic and anal fins streaming from under its body. The bright colors are not apparent at depth, but sparkle when illuminated with a dive light. Males are somewhat more colorful and larger than females, and males generally maintain large harems of females. Pseudanthias hawaiiensis photo courtesy of Richard L. Pyle

Barred Bands that stop and do not go all around

Identify these markings

Anatomy of a bony fish

More on anatomy

Food chain Some fish eat other fish… which ate smaller fish…
which may have eaten tiny fish, microscopic animals or plants

Fish may be eaten by Other fish Birds such as this Osprey Raccoons
Bears Cats Humans

Fish Behavior: School or not to school?
Some fish prefer to live singly, while others travel in schools A school of fish may appear as one large animal to other animals

Where in the water do fish live?
Fish can be observed in all parts of the water column at the surface open water habitats - pelagic benthic

Blue Lined Triggerfish Pseudobalistes fuscus
Beautiful, but very aggressive and very strong fish They are deep and fat bodied with enlarged heads They have very powerful jaws and can chew through just about anything The triggerfish takes its name from the locking mechanism of the stout first dorsal-fin spine and the smaller, slender second spine (the trigger). When the first spine is erected, the second spine is also pulled up and functions like a cam to wedge the larger spine in a vertical position (Fig. 1). The first spine cannot be folded down, until the tip of the second spine is pulled posteriorly. The family name Balistidae is formed from the genus name Balistes, which is derived from the Latin ballista, another name for the Roman catapult, in allusion to the trigger mechanism of the dorsal-fin spines. Most triggerfish species occur on coral reefs, and when threatened by a predator, triggerfish dart into a hole or crevice on the reef, lock their dorsal spine erect and depress their pelvic bone to wedge themselves into the reef. The body is also covered with strong, rough, plate-like scales that serve as armour plating and provide further protection. The pelvic fins are reduced to a small, bony nubbin at the tip of the long depressible pelvic bone on the ventral midline of the belly. Triggerfish swim by undulating the soft dorsal and anal fins, and use their tail fin only when they are in a hurry. Although the mouth is small, the jaws are provided with strong, sharp teeth, and triggerfishes can deliver a painful bite. They feed on a variety of benthic invertebrates, including crustaceans, molluscs, brittlestars, tunicates, polychaete worms, sponges, hydrozoans, tips of branching coral, and small fishes. Sea urchins are a favourite food, and even the long spines of Diadema urchins pose no problem for a hungry triggerfish. The fish just picks the sea urchin off the bottom, flips it over in midwater and then zeroes in on the spineless underside of the urchin. Some triggers, especially the redtooth (Odonus niger) and species of the genus Xanthichthys feed primarily on zooplankton. Triggerfish are closely related to the filefishes (Family Monacanthidae), and some filefishes also have a locking dorsal-fin spine. But filefishes have only one or two dorsal-fin spines, all the dorsal, anal and pectoral-fin rays are simple (unbranched), and the scales are modified, forming fine short bristles like on a toothbrush. Triggerfishes occur worldwide in tropical and warm temperate waters, generally near shore in relatively shallow water (usually less than 100 m), but adults of some species are regularly found out in the open ocean. Most triggerfish are good eating, although large specimens of some species are occasionally toxic and eating these fish may result in ciguatera poisoning. When it comes time for spawning, most triggerfish dig a shallow crater in the sand, where the female deposits the eggs. Both sexes have been reported guarding the nest until the eggs hatch and the larvae float away. Should you see a trigger circling a spot on the sand, chasing other fishes that approach this location and blowing jets of water at the spot, it is likely that the fish is guarding a nest there. Steer well clear of these nest guarders, as they are particularly aggressive, and have no hesitation in attacking and biting divers.

Puffer Photo by ScubaMom
Another defense which makes the Puffer not an ideal choice is that the flesh of the puffer is suffused with Tetrodotoxin. Tetrodotoxin is a powerful neurotoxin that can cause death in nearly 60% of the humans that ingest it. A human only has to ingest a few milligrams for a fatal reaction to the toxin to occur. Once consumed the toxin blocks the sodium channels in the nervous tissues, ultimately paralyzing the muscle tissue. Curiously, the toxin seems not to be synthesized by the fish itself, but by bacteria associated with the fish! The fish has a mutation in its own sodium channels which makes it resistant to Photo by ScubaMom

Tetraodontidae: Puffer Fish
Body is cone-like with the widest end being the head, and the posterior tapering to the tail fin. When threatened, inflates its body by taking in air and water. Once “puffed,” it will float upside down until it can release the air. By swelling the puffer becomes too large to consume. Some Puffers also have small spines. Puffers have strong jaws and teeth fused into a parrot-like beak.

Long Horned Cowfish Lactoria cornuta
Cowfish are members of the Boxfish and Trunkfish families (Ostraciidae). All of these fish have rigid bodies made up of bony plates which cover them entirely except for the stomach. The only flexible part is the tail. Nature protects these slow, gentle fish by outfitting them with sharp spikes front and rear and by covering them with poisonous flesh. The Longhorned Cowfish is brilliant yellow in color with bright blue spots in the center of each piece of its body plating. They should not be kept with aggressive or fast moving fishes and their skin can be damaged by the attentions of cleaner fish. They are intolerant of each other and need enough room for each to establish it's own territory. They are generally compatible with invertebrates but may pick at tube worms.

Sturgeon

Orbiculate batfish Platax orbicularis
Batfish are members of the Ephippidae family. Batfish are often recognized by their elongated fins, which are present in the younger stages. In the growing process the fins become shorter and the body grows longer. Batfish live in several different tropical and subtropical oceans around the world. Juvenile Batfish stay in the inshore waters. The larger Batfish can be found on or near coral reefs. Although age is a determining factor, some batfish can be found traveling in schools or as individuals.

Jawfish Opistognathus sp.
Great aquarium community fish Male is a mouth breeder

Sargassum angler fish Histrio histrio
Has its own fishing pole Not a strong swimmer Lives in floating Sargasso weed

Bonnethead shark

Blacktip shark

Thresher shark feed primarily on small schooling fishes (such as herrings, sardines) that are herded together with their tails and then stunned or killed with it.

Rays Rays are dorso-ventrally flattened
Distinguished by disk shaped body, long-thick tail, and gills body is composed of a disk (head, trunk and pectoral fins ) The ventral side (underside) is the location of the mouth and five pairs of gill slits. Spiracles are the 1st gill slits and the only ones located on the dorsal side. Eyes are located dorsally

Atlantic Manta Manta birostris
Plankton feeder Become very large

Southern stingray

Spotted gar Lepisosteus oculatus

Redfish The Redfish is notorious as a bottom feeding animal.
It can also be seen on the surface, feeding on schools of fingerling baitfish. It prefers shallow grass beds and structures where small fish and crustaceans are abundant.

Red Snapper great eating reef fish

Oyster Toadfish: Opsamus tau
Bulging eyes Fleshy flaps (whiskers) on cheeks and jaw Skin is yellow to brown with dark brown oblique bars and brown reticulations Tail is long with tufted end.

Oyster Toadfish Opsamus tau
The oyster toadfish is very unique it has sound which make the oyster fish a subject of its share of studies of fish communication. the male produces a sound like a boatwhistle that is associated with mating and nesting. both males and the females make a grunting sound which appears to be aggresive and territorial in nature. the source of both these sounds is the toadfishes swimbladder, which contains a pair of the fastest contracting muscles in any animal. the sound producing structure is similar and the difference in sound made by the male and the female may result from neural and hormonal differences rather than the variations in structure of the swimbladder. this has puzzled scientist for years.

Golden Butterfly fish Chaetodon semilarvatus
Pectoral fins are enlarged and wing like. Dorsal fin located far to the rear of the body. Thread shaped elongated rays on their pelvic fins, which function as tactile Tiger-like stripes To an insect that suddenly finds itself the prey of a golden fish charging out of the water, the fish may look more like the tiger its stripes suggest rather than a butterfly. These fish are normally found in pairs, although in captivity, it is suggested that they not be kept in the same tank unless one is much smaller than the other. Some species appear to be monogamous. Courtship is enthusiastic, ending with mating at dusk. Butterfly fish are egg-layers, and the eggs develop free in the water without parental care. In many species of butterflyfish, the young are a different color from their parents. The young larvae are of a type unique to butterflyfish -- "tholichthys larvae" -- and look much like small insects themselves. The head is armored, with plates projecting from the head toward the back. These larvae grow to a few centimeters across and then transform into a tiny miniature of the adult.

Golden Butterfly Fish Chaetodon semilarvatus
Growing to around 8 inches at maturity, the golden butterfly fish (Chaetodon semilarvatus) is one of nature's unique beauties. As the name implies, they are a golden yellow color. Their pectoral fins are enlarged and wing like. Their head and back are flattened, with the dorsal fin located far to the rear of the body. They have thread shaped elongated rays on their pelvic fins, which function as tactile receptors. The scales of the butterfly fish lack ornamentation, however they appear to have tiger like stripes growing vertically along the middle of their body. Given the scientific name Chaetodon -- "bristle-toothed" -- the tigerish appearance may be warranted, and indeed these attractive fish are predators. The large pectoral fins of the butterfly fish allow them to "jump" up from the water and through the air, giving them the appearance of flying, thus the name "butterfly." The butterfly fish is generally found floating at the top of the water where it appears to hang from the surface. This makes it convenient for them to reach their food supply, which consists mainly of flying insects. To an insect that suddenly finds itself the prey of a golden fish charging out of the water, the fish may look more like the tiger its stripes suggest rather than a butterfly. These fish are normally found in pairs, although in captivity, it is suggested that they not be kept in the same tank unless one is much smaller than the other. Some species appear to be monogamous. Courtship is enthusiastic, ending with mating at dusk. Butterfly fish are egg-layers, and the eggs develop free in the water without parental care. In many species of butterflyfish, the young are a different color from their parents.

Sergeant - Major Fish Abudefduf saxatilis
Grows up to 8"(20cm)TL Lively colored laterally compressed Black vertical stripes narrow toward the belly* dark spot at the base of the pectoral fin Small terminal mouth *five black bars that resemble the insignia of that rank the insignia of that rank in military services

Scorpion fish:Stone fish
Body length: 10 to 20 “ Weight: 1 to 5 lbs Large head, mouth and jaws, tapering to a small tail Color: red, orange, yellow, and black. Dorsal, pelvic, and anal fins have sharp spines with venom; venom glands lie alongside the spines. Irregular surface and patchy colors hide the fish's body contours and make it look like a patch of weed-covered rock.

Garibaldi Hypsypops rubicundus
Orange in color Small, narrow mouth Rounded, somewhat oval shape. Tail is short, and heart shaped Stubby fins

Archer Fish Toxotes jaculatrix
The archer is capable of leaping 12 inches out of the water and catch prey in its mouth. It can also launch a jet of water out of its mouth, to knock down bugs flying or walking on the plants above Lower lip protrudes over the upper The Archer Fish has several amazing anatomical, physiological, and behavioral aspects.If you were to have an Olympic fish triathlon this fish would definitely win gold. The archer is capable of leaping 12 inches out of the water and catch prey in its mouth. It can also launch a jet of water out of its mouth, to knock down bugs flying or walking on the plants above. The archer picture to the right, the Archer fish uses its binocular vision to look for prey on or above the surface of the water. When the Archer prepares to launch water it uses the tongue and top of the mouth to form a longitudinal grove, similar to that of a rifle barrel. Once this groove is made the Archer can rapidly launch several squirts of water with compression of its gills to knock down prey. Archer have been observed knocking down small insects from up to 6 feet above the water surface.

ARCHER FISH Toxotes jaculatrix
The archer is capable of leaping 12 inches out of the water and catch prey in its mouth. It can also launch a jet of water out of its mouth, to knock down bugs flying or walking on the plants above. The archer picture to the right, the Archer fish uses its binocular vision to look for prey on or above the surface of the water. When the Archer prepares to launch water it uses the tongue and top of the mouth to form a longitudinal grove, similar to that of a rifle barrel. Once this groove is made the Archer can rapidly launch several squirts of water with compression of its gills to knock down prey. Archer have been observed knocking down small insects from up to 6 feet above the water surface. Archer Fish at the Fort Worth Zoo Photos above and below from Badman's Tropical Fish

Pinfish Common in our Gulf this fish makes good bait!

Lookdown

Blackfin tuna

Silver Seatrout

Paddlefish Polyodon spathula
Its closest living relative, the more well-known sturgeon, the paddlefish is an ancient fish that has been cruising the rivers and tributaries of the Mississippi River system for hundreds of thousands of years AKA in AL: Spoon-billed catfish Prized for its excellent white meat and valuable roe, the paddlefish has been severely over fished. The taste is said to be similar to salmon or swordfish. The roe are important to the commercial caviar business. In fact, much of the caviar that is sold as sturgeon roe is actually paddlefish roe. Over-fishing, combined with changing habitats, has caused paddlefish numbers to drop. However, today many states, such as Alabama, Tennessee and Missouri, have tough laws protecting the paddlefish from over fishing and illegal roe collection. Many state agencies also breed and restock paddlefish into areas where they are no longer found. We hope that one day the waters of the Mississippi River System will find this unique natural treasure restored to its original numbers.

Pirana

Spanish Mackerel

Striped anchovy One of the most common fish captured in the Gulf nets. Cut the head and abdominal region off, dredge through flour and deep fry.

Triple Tail

Gulf menhaeden

Littlehead porgy

Yellowfin tuna

White Marlin

Swordfish

Dolphin (male)

Jack Crevalle

Bigeye jacks

Atlantic bumper

Atlantic croaker Makes a croaking noise when held

Atlantic spade fish

Cobia Also called Lemon fish

Barracuda

Florida pompano

Gulf flounder The fry larve hatches with an eye on each side of the body. One eye moves to the other side—Left or right eyed flatfish We eat these left eyed flounders!

Starry Flounder Platichthys stellatus
left-eyed flounder

White and striped mullet

Gafftopsail and hardtop catfish
Males are mouth breeders

Flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris
The barbels contain taste organs and thus in a sense are an extension of the tongue. This is logical since the majority of catfishes are active at dusk and at night and need a supplementary organ to detect food (Grzimek 363).

Redtail Catfish Phractocephalus hemioliopterus
World record- 97lb 7oz , in wild 110 lbs and 3ft to 5ft In theory catfish are unable to use visual clues to track prey in their dark habitats so they follow recent chemical trails left behind by smaller fish like for instance guppies. The catfish use electrical field sensors to find the prey. These are called chemoreceptors. The chemoreceptors abound across the catfish's skin and act like big tongues as the catfish swim in the water. Source Materials and Related Links: Catfish Profile at: Catfish Profile at: freshaquarium.about.com USGS: Red Tail Catfish at Nonindigenous Aquatic Species [NAS]

Symbiotic relationship
Stoplight Parrotfish and Clown Wrasse

Seahorse Probably the fish that does not fir any descriptions other than “other” Male carries the eggs until they hatch in his brood pouch.

Creatures of the Deep-Mesopelagic
Here's an up close and personal view of the wicked-looking Viper fish (Chauliodus macouni). Check out the teeth and the bug eyes on this guy!

Creature of the Mesopelagic depths
A Fangtooth - scientists still aren't exactly sure why so many bony fishes of the deep have such enlarged, daggerlike teeth

Other deep ocean fish, the gulper eel
Gulper eels have a hinged skull, which can rotate upward to swallow large prey. The gulper eel is particularly well-known for its impossibly large mouth Fish that live down here must adapt to a very low food supply, eating only "scraps" that sink down from above, or sometimes eating each other.

Bioluminescence is simply light produced by a chemical reactionIt
The deep-sea fish Aristostomias has more than one light organ. The light produced by species like Malacosteus, Aristostomias, and Pachystomias has such long wavelengths that it is nearly infrared and is barely visible to a human eye. In addition, they can produce typical blue-green light from a separate organ. (Illustration © Steven Haddock) T h e B l a c k D r a g o n f i s h

Interested in Reading…
Creeps from the Deep : Life in the Deep Sea by Norbert Wu (Illustrator), Leighton R. Taylor $10.46

Abyssal Zone Abyssal Zone Some of the strangest creatures on our planet live in the deepest zone. The water here is pitch black, and almost freezing; the pressure is immense.

Deep-sea angler fish

Lantern fish Light producing spots on their bodies that light up the dark surroundings Shiny dots along the lower part of the body make light. Bioluminescence, the making of light by organisms, is very common in deep water. It serves many functions. Perhaps this fish uses light patterns as a means of recognizing its own kind in the dark.

Deep sea creature

Plastic pollution: Entanglement
Six-pack rings cause problems for many organisms including birds, fish and mammals. Solution: cut them up before disposing

Fish Identification To key a fish
students/scales/

Interested in Fish??? Source of information
programs/mgmt/surveys.htm

Sources Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission images

images

Lionfish Pterois volitans
An extraordinary and decorative fish, the lionfish is immediately identified by its long, fanlike pectoral fins, branched dorsal fin and brightly striped body. This eye-catching coloration warns potential enemies that the lionfish's grooved spines are equipped with potent venom, which can have serious, perhaps fatal, effects, even in humans.

Snakehead fish A Fish Out of Water
Reaching up to 40 inches in length and weighing up to 15 pounds, the formidable creature with snake-like scales on its head has an ability shared by only a few other species of fish — it can survive out of water. The fear is the animal could squirm from one body of water to another using its pectoral fins as limbs. "They're not particularly fast, but they can move," says Eric Schwaab, director of the Maryland Fisheries department. Scwaab has posted wanted posters around the Maryland lake, identifying the snakehead fish and urging anglers to kill "by cutting/bleeding" any specimens they might catch. He and his team are also using traps baited with cat food to try and capture any lingering snakeheads in the pond. But an intense attack on the fish will have to wait until cooler fall and winter temperatures relieve the pond of a thick growth of lilies and weeds. Large nets would get snared in the plants and a technique known as electrofishing would also be hindered. Electrofishing involves running an electric current through the water, which stuns all fish and makes them float to the surface. Any northern snakeheads would then be collected and killed.

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