1. Taxonomy of fishes

2. Taxonomic hierarchy: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Actinopterygii (formerly Osteichthyes) Order: Cypriniformes Family: Cyprinidae Genus: Cyprinus Species: carpio (common carp) additional standardized endings: Suborder: - oides Subfamily: - inae Tribe: - ini
But what are teleost fishes??

3. Taxonomic hierarchy: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Actinopterygii (formerly Osteichthyes) Subclass Neopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Order: Cypriniformes Family: Cyprinidae Genus: Cyprinus Species: carpio (common carp)
Pick apart these Latin names… actino: ray ichthyo: fish osteo: bone ptery: wing teleo: complete

4. KINGDOM ANIMALIA PHYLUM Chordata SUPERCLASS Agnatha
Class Myxini (1 order)
Class Cephalaspidomorphi (1 order)
SUPERCLASS Gnathostomata
Class Chondrichthyes (10 orders)
sharks, rays, skates, chimeras
Class Sarcopterygii (3 orders)
lungfishes
Class Actinopterygii (4 orders)
ray-finned fishes
Infraclass Teleostei (35-38 orders)

5. classification
hierarchical grouping of organisms (used by Linnaeus,1758)
taxonomy
science of biological nomenclature (formal rules for use)
systematics
the study of relationships

6. What characteristics could be used to distinguish these fishes?

7. What characteristics could be used to distinguish these fishes?

8. Tools of taxonomy:
morphometrics
- measurements relative to length 8

9. Tools of taxonomy: morphometrics - measurements relative to length
meristics
- counts 9

10. Tools of taxonomy: morphometrics - measurements relative to length
meristics
- counts
anatomical traits – e.g., presence/absence

11. Tools of taxonomy: morphometrics - measurements relative to length
meristics
- counts
anatomical traits – e.g., presence/absence
color patterns
white crappie (Pomoxis annularis)
black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) 11

12. Tools of taxonomy: morphometrics - measurements relative to length
meristics
- counts
anatomical traits – e.g., presence/absence
color patterns
karyotypes – chromosome counts,
shape, banding patterns

13. Tools of taxonomy: morphometrics - measurements relative to length
meristics
- counts
anatomical traits – e.g., presence/absence
color patterns
karyotypes – chromosome counts,
shape, banding patterns
biochemical methods

14. Tools of taxonomy:
physiological differences (e.g., temperature preferences)
behavior
steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) 14

15. Tools of taxonomy:
physiological differences (e.g., temperature preferences)
behavior
diet
steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) 15

16. Use of standardized descriptions:
Round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1811).
D1 VI (V‑VII); D2 I + 14‑16 (13‑16); A I + 11‑13 (11‑14); P 18‑19 (17‑20).
Scaled on the parietal region, nape, back (all), throat (all or most), abdomen, pectoral fin peduncles, and one quarter of the gill covers. Scales on the middle and anterior nape are cycloid. Head is as wide as or wider than deep; depth is 0.9‑1.2 times the width. Head length 4.2‑4.5 of total body length. Angle of the jaw below the anterior quarter of the eye. Lower jaw not prominent. Snout 1.1‑1.4 times the orbit diameter. Upper lip narrows slightly to the rear. Usually 6, rarely 7, transverse suborbital series of pit organs. Ventral fins reach or almost reach the vent. Pelvic disk is 0.6‑0.8 times the abdomen length. If present, the anterior membrane width is very shallow, with rounded, lateral lobes. Caudal peduncle depth is about two‑thirds its length. Lacks a gas bladder and chemoreceptors.

17. Use of standardized descriptions:
Round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1811).
placed in genus of nearest
(known) related species

18. Use of standardized descriptions:
Round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1811).
sources of species names:
descriptive (melanostomus)
discoverer, etc. (hubbsi)
local language (namaycush)

19. Use of standardized descriptions:
Round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1811).
Originally discovered and named by Pallas in 1811
- but name has since changed, so his name is in
parentheses

20. Use of standardized descriptions:
Round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1811)
D1 VI (V‑VII); D2 I + 14‑16 (13‑16); A I + 11‑13 (11‑14); P 18‑19 (17‑20).

21. Use of standardized descriptions:
Round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1811)
D1 VI (V‑VII); D2 I + 14‑16 (13‑16); A I + 11‑13 (11‑14); P 18‑19 (17‑20).
D1 VI (V‑VII); the anterior dorsal fin has 6 spines, ranging from 5‑7

22. Use of standardized descriptions:
Round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1811)
D1 VI (V‑VII); D2 I + 14‑16 (13‑16); A I + 11‑13 (11‑14); P 18‑19 (17‑20).
D1 VI (V‑VII); the anterior dorsal fin has 6 spines, ranging from 5‑7
D2 I + 14‑16 (13‑16); the posterior dorsal fin has one spine
and 14‑16 soft rays, ranging from 13-16

23. Use of standardized descriptions:
Round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1811)
D1 VI (V‑VII); D2 I + 14‑16 (13‑16); A I + 11‑13 (11‑14); P 18‑19 (17‑20).
D1 VI (V‑VII); the anterior dorsal fin has 6 spines, ranging from 5‑7
D2 I + 14‑16 (13‑16); the posterior dorsal fin has one spine
and 14‑16 soft rays, ranging from 13-16
A ‑13 (11‑14); the anal fin has one spine, 11-13
soft rays, ranging from 11‑14

24. Use of standardized descriptions:
Round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1811)
D1 VI (V‑VII); D2 I + 14‑16 (13‑16); A I + 11‑13 (11‑14); P 18‑19 (17‑20).
D1 VI (V‑VII); the anterior dorsal fin has 6 spines, ranging from 5‑7
D2 I + 14‑16 (13‑16); the posterior dorsal fin has one spine
and 14‑16 soft rays, ranging from 13-16
A I + 11‑13 (11‑14); the anal fin has one spine, 11-13
soft rays, ranging from 11‑14
P 18‑19 (17‑20). the pectoral fins have 18-19
soft rays, ranging from 17‑20

25. Use of standardized descriptions:
Round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1811).
D1 VI (V‑VII); D2 I + 14‑16 (13‑16); A I + 11‑13 (11‑14); P 18‑19 (17‑20).
Scaled on the parietal region, nape, back (all), throat (all or most), abdomen, pectoral fin peduncles, and one quarter of the gill covers. Scales on the middle and anterior nape are cycloid.
Head is as wide as or wider than deep; depth is 0.9‑1.2 times the width. Head length 4.2‑4.5 of total body length. Angle of the jaw below the anterior quarter of the eye. Lower jaw not prominent. Snout 1.1‑1.4 times the orbit diameter. Upper lip narrows slightly to the rear. Usually 6, rarely 7, transverse suborbital series of pit organs.
Ventral fins reach or almost reach the vent. Pelvic disk is 0.6‑0.8 times the abdomen length. If present, the anterior membrane width is very shallow, with rounded, lateral lobes.
Caudal peduncle depth is about two‑thirds its length.
Lacks a gas bladder and chemoreceptors.

26. Authorship of scientific names
International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature
right of priority – you discover it, you name it
species name will (almost) never change
type specimen – archived original specimen
type locality – location of first discovery
nominal species – name of a species defined by type specimen
nomen praeoccupatum – name already in use
junior synonyms – name with later publication date than
accepted name

27. Authorship of scientific names
right of priority
type specimen
type locality
nominal species
nomen praeoccupatum
junior synonyms

28. Authorship of scientific names Salmo Omisco Maycus - Walbaum 1792
(type locality Hudson Bay)
Percopsis guttatus - Agassiz 1850
Salmoperca pellucida - Thompson 1853
Percopsis omiscomaycus - Kendall 1911
Thus, correct name is Percopsis omiscomaycus (Walbaum 1792)
Percopsis: perch-like
omiscomaycus: probably Algonquin name with root meaning “trout”
Common names: trout-perch, silver chub, omisco
Omiscomaycus - namaycush

29. Authorship of scientific names
right of priority
type specimen
type locality
nominal species
nomen praeoccupatum
junior synonyms
Salmo gairdneri Richardson 1836
synonymous with Salmo mykiss Walbaum 1792
but it is really a Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus)
- so it becomes Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum 1792)

31. On Discovering a Butterfly
I found it and named it, being versed in taxonomic Latin; thus became godfather to an insect and its first describer -- and I want no other fame.
Wide open on its pin (though fast asleep), and safe from creeping relatives and rust, in the secluded stronghold where we keep type specimens it will transcend its dust.
Dark pictures, thrones, the stones that pilgrims kiss, poems that take a thousand years to die but ape the immortality of this red label on a little butterfly.
-Vladimir Nabokov

32. How are names chosen, what do they mean?
What’s in a name?
How are names chosen, what do they mean?
- descriptive (Perca flavescens)
- honoring a scientist, colleague, etc. (Cottus bairdi;
Barbus ansorgi, B. gulielmi)
- local name or language (Salvelinus namaycush)
- personal connection or tribute (Oregonichthys kalawatseti)
The fish etymology project:
William George Ansorgi – Welsh version of ‘William’
Kalawaset – diverse tribes of native Americans in Oregon, now declined/gone

33. Nomenclature (International Code of Zoological Nomenclature)
use of Latin, Greek
prononciation:
ch = k (e.g., ichthyology)
initial c = s (e.g., Cyprinidae)
genus and species always italicized; genus capitalized, species not capitalized
Neogobius melanostomus
genus, species with subspecies - species abbreviated
N. melanostomus
N. m. caspia
subgenus usually in parentheses
Dreissena (Pontodreissena) polymorpha
hybrids: Rutilus rutilus x Abramis brama

34. Nomenclature (International Code of Zoological Nomenclature)
problems with common names:
Oncorhynchus – true salmon
rainbow trout
Chinook salmon
Salmo – trout
brown trout
Atlantic salmon
Salvelinus – char (or charr)
lake trout
brook trout
Arctic char
creek chub, longjaw chub, grey chub, Bermuda chub, etc.
cisco….

35. Are these fish in the same family? Species? Why or why not?

36. Are these fish in the same family? Species? Why or why not?

37. Are these fish in the same family? Species? Why or why not?

38. Are these fish in the same family? Species? Why or why not?

39. Are these fish in the same family? Species? Why or why not?

41. But – what is a species?
Lake trout
(Salvelinus namaycush)
Splake (Lake trout x Brook trout) - fertile
Brook trout
(Salvelinus fontinalis)

42. What does this creature have to do with fish taxonomy???
(hint: there’s more than one way of classifying species…)
What does this creature have to do with fish taxonomy???

43. Phylogenetic systematics (cladistics)
non-arbitrary, informative classifications that reflect
evolutionary relationships – evolutionary hypotheses
binary – based on single characters that are or are not present
task is to identify monophyletic groups (clades)
- all of the descendants of a common ancestor
- share a common trait 43

44. Phylogenetic systematics (cladistics)
monophyletic groups (clades)
– members share common ancestor
– all members have common derived character or synapomorphy
Coelacanths
Osteoglossiformes
This cladogram illustrates a monophyly – or, encapsulate any part of the tree all the way to the right without leaving out right-hand members
cladogram 44

45. polyphyletic groups - consists of members from two monophyletic
groups (e.g. flying animals; eel-like animals)
usually reflects convergent evolution ‘mistake’
paraphyletic group - monophyletic group that excludes some
of the descendants

46. Phylogenetic systematics (cladistics)
avoid paraphyletic groups - monophyletic group that excludes some of the
descendants

47. Tetrapods … have jaws with fixed teeth, a bony skeleton, a skull with sutures, and heavy, paired appendages. …scales are not at all a defining character of fishiness, nor is breathing by way of gills. Therefore, based on many structural and physiological synapomorphies, the tetrapods not only share a common ancestor with the lobe-finned fishes, but are derived from them. The tetrapods are now generally believed to represent a subclass within the Sarcopterygii. And therein lies a major reason for the difficulties in defining fishes as a group. Fish - as the term is usually applied - is not a monophyletic taxon.
R. Aidan Martin

48. Phylogenetic systematics (cladistics)
“task” of phylogeny is to determine whether characters shared among taxa are
primitive (plesiomorphies – primitive character states)
or derived (apomorphies – advanced character states)
homologous – identical by ancestry
or convergent – similar by convergent evolution

49. look for patterns, sequences. Note changes in fin position
look for patterns, sequences. Note changes in fin position. Job of the taxonomist to identify phylogenetically important features, vs. ecologically determined ones. Homologies vs congruencies (such as adipose fin)

50. Where do these fish belong, phylogenetically, in relation to each other?
Congruencies – anguilliform shape

51. Phylogenetic systematics (cladistics)
Characteristics of the extant classes of fishes
Character Primitive Advanced
skeleton cartilaginous ossified
paired fins absent (lamprey) present*
gill arches absent present
nostril(s) one, median paired
jaws absent present
fins with spines absent (trout) present (perches)*
pectoral fins horizontal base low on vertical base high
body (minnows) on body (basses)*
pelvic fins far back on belly forward, attached to pectoral girdle
tail heterocercal homocercal
scales cycloid ctenoid
mouth front of head up- or down-turned*
* subsequently modified in some advanced fishes
Note that many of these traits have intermediate states (e.g., partially calcified skeletons)

54. Phylogenetic systematics (cladistics)
avoid paraphyletic groups - monophyletic group that excludes some of the
descendants
or polyphyletic groups - consists of members from two monophyletic
groups (e.g. flying animals; eel-like animals)
Myxiniformes Petromyzontiformes Gnathostomata
(hagfishes) (lampreys) (jawed fishes)
Agnatha is now
paraphyletic
Agnatha
(jawless fishes)
Myxiniformes Petromyzontiformes Gnathostomata
(hagfishes) (lampreys) (jawed fishes)