1. Actinopterygian Relationships IV Biology of Fishes 10.11.12

2. Overview Presentation Topics
Review (Actinopterygian Relationships III)
Actinopterygian Relationships IV : Percomorpha

3. Actinopterygian Relationships

4. Actinopterygian Relationships

5. Actinopterygian Relationships
Paracanthopterygii (cods, anglers, cavefishes, relatives)
Acanthopterygii (spiny-finned fishes)
- Mugilomorpha (mullets)
- Atherinomorpha (silversides, flyingfishes, liverbearers and rel.)
-Percomorpha (perch-shaped fishes)

6. Acanthopterygii

7. Actinopterygian Relationships
Acanthopterygii (spiny-finned fishes)
Most diverse group of bony fishes; ~15,000 species
Two major synapomorphies
Ascending process – dorsal extension of premaxilla
Most highly developed pharyngeal dentition and function based on new muscle and bone attachments
Ctenoid scales
Physoclistous gas bladder
2 dorsal fins (1 spiny-rayed, 1 soft-rayed)
Pelvic and anal fin spines
Pelvic fins forward, pectoral fins laterally positioned

8. Acanthopterygii

9. Actinopterygian Relationships
Acanthopterygii (spiny-finned fishes)
Most advanced fishes, dominate shallow productive habitats of marine and many freshwater environments
Controversial phylogeny (follow Nelson 2006)

10. Actinopterygian Relationships
Paracanthopterygii (cods, anglers, cavefishes, relatives)
Acanthopterygii (spiny-finned fishes)
- Mugilomorpha (mullets)
- Atherinomorpha (silversides, flyingfishes, liverbearers and rel.)
-Percomorpha (perch-shaped fishes)
pumpkinseed sunfish

11. Actinopterygian Relationships

12. Actinopterygian Relationships
Percomorpha (“perch-shaped” fishes)
Most advanced clade of fishes
~13,000 species; primarily marine, many successful freshwater
Primary synapomorphy is anteriorly placed pelvic girdle attached to pectoral girdle directly or via ligament
Pelvic fin with anterior spine and 5 soft rays (typically)

13. Percomorpha (basal groups)
Stephanoberyciformes (whalefishes)
Beryciformes (squirrelfishes)
Zeiformes (dories)
Gasterosteiformes (sticklebacks, seahorses)
Synbranchiformes (swamp eels)
Scorpaeniformes (scorpionfishes, sculpins, relatives)

14. Percomorpha

15. Percomorpha (basal groups)
whalefishes
dories
squirrelfishes
swamp eels
seahorses, sticklebacks
scorpionfishes, sculpins

16. Percomorpha Stephanoberyciformes (whalefishes) ~75 species
Deepsea marine fishes
Primitive percomorphs, more caudal fin rays (18-19) than other percomorphs (typically 17)

17. Percomorpha Beryciformes (squirrelfishes) ~144 species
Nocturnal marine fishes
Large eyes, head; also primitive caudal fin ray number (18- 19)
Includes commercially important orange roughy (mature in years, live past 150 years)

18. Percomorpha Zeiformes (dories) ~75 species
Primitive marine percomorphs
Protrusible mouths
Not well-classified in percomorpha based on morphologies

19. Percomorpha Gasterosteiformes (sticklebacks, seashorses)
~280 species, primarily marine, small fishes
Dermal armor plates, small mouths
Sticklebacks very intensely studied (behavior, physiology, ecology, evolution)
Unique reproductive behavior – “pregnant males”

20. Percomorpha Synbranchiformes (swamp eels) ~100 species
Primarily freshwater, eel-like fishes
Air-breathers
Lack most fins, in some cases all fins
Invasive species from pet trade

21. Percomorpha Scorpaeniformes (scorpionfishes, sculpins, relatives)
~1500 species, primarily marine fishes
Phylogenetic placement in percomorpha debated
Many lack scales, possess numerous spines
Venomous lionfishes and stonefishes
Freshwater sculpins
Lumpfish (Cyclopterus) is most advanced

22. Percomorpha (advanced groups)
Perciformes (perch-like fishes)
Pleuronectiformes (flatfishes)
Tetraodontiformes (puffers, triggerfishes, relatives)

23. Percomorpha

24. Percomorpha (advanced groups)
Perciformes
Pleuronectiformes
Tetraodontiformes
triggerfish
yellow perch
parrotfish
flounders & halibuts
ocean sunfish

25. Percomorpha Perciformes (perch-like fishes)
Largest order of vertebrates – 160 families and over 10,000 species; more than 2/3 of all fishes
Rapid evolution ~20 million years
Marine (gobies, wrasses, seabasses) and freshwater success (cichlids, croakers, perches/darters)
Some of the most recognizable fishes

26. Perciformes

27. Percomorpha Pleuronectiformes (flounders, halibuts, relatives)
Asymmetrical morphology – both eyes on one side of head
Teeth, scales, fins, pigmentation differ between sides
Benthic, carnivorous, primarily marine; ~680 species
Important food fishes

28. Percomorpha Tetraodontiformes (puffers, triggerfishes, relatives)
“four teeth”; many lack true teeth (possess modified jaw bone)
Most derived fishes, reduced bones, fins, morphology; ~360 species
Trigger mechanism in trigger/filefishes
Cartilaginous elements re-evolved (“come full circle”)
tetraodotoxin