VERTEBRATE NATURAL HISTORY
SURVEY LAB -- CLASSES CYCLOSTOMATA AND ACTINOPTERYGII
Our study fish clades will emphasize relationships between their general body form, microhabitat within the water column, and ways in which members of this group acquire nutrients. You should consult your field guide for salient identification characteristics of the taxa on display, and augment your work in lab with direct field observations. The objective is to understand the variety of habits, structural characteristics, and physical requirements that can exist among the various fish species.
Bear in mind that the coloration/pattern seen on live material or field guide photos may fade in preserved specimens. When returning preserved specimens to their containers, be certain that its entire body is immersed in preservative fluid and the jar lid is sealed tightly. Please be certain that you return the specimen to the correct container.
When examining the specimens, keep in mind the following features of fish, and how they vary according to the species or ontogenetic stage:
General morphology You should be familiar with landmarks on the body of a fish that are used to distinguish different species. The fins on the body may be paired (pectoral or pelvic) or medial (dorsal, anal, caudal); the operculum is the structure covering the gill arches and may have species-specific shape or ornamentation; the tail shape (which influences swimming performance) may be described as homocercal or heterocercal; the area immediately anterior to the tail is referred to as the caudal peduncle.
Feeding morphology A fishes' mouth may be described as terminal, subterminal, or up-turned -- in addition to understanding how these terms can be used to distinguish different taxa, they also indicate whether the fish is a surface feeder, a benthic feeder, or a predator in the water column.
Reproductive structures Most fish are oviparous, but several among these may breed in habitats far removed from where the species spends most of its life time. In males of the Western Mosquitofish, anal fins are modified into a sexual structure known as a gonopodium, for example.
VERTEBRATE NATURAL HISTORY
spiny dorsal fin
soft dorsal fin
lateralline
pectoral fin mandible maxilla preopercle opercle
caudal peduncle caudal fin
anal fin pelvic fin
For all specimens on display, you will be responsible for the following: common name, Family, Subclass, Class, & Subphylum. identifying characteristics and sexual dimorphism (if any). Native or non-native (+) and habitat requirements.
For the taxa listed below: * = sexual dimorphism + = introduced species
CLASS CYCLOSTOMATA SUBCLASS PETROMYZONTOIDEA
F. Petromyzontidae Southern Brook Lamprey Page 123-124 Peterson Guide to Freshwater Fishes of North America and North Mexico
CLASS ACTINOPTERYGII SUBCLASS ACIPENSERIFORMES
F. Polyodontidae Paddlefish Page 140 Peterson Guide to Freshwater Fishes of North America and North Mexico
SUBCLASS NEOPTERYGII
F. Aphredoderidae Pirate Perch Page 416-417 Peterson Guide to Freshwater Fishes of North America and North Mexico F. Atherinopsidae Brook Silverside Page 422 Peterson Guide to Freshwater Fishes of North America and North Mexico F. Lepisosteidae Alligator Gar Longnose Gar Page 142 Peterson Guide to Freshwater Fishes o