Series: Pisces
PISCES
Fishes
Fishes are first evolved in silurian period of palaeozoic era. They increased their number in Devonian period. Devonian Period is
Called Age of Fishes.
Fishes are first jawed vertebrates. They live in water. They are cold blooded vertebrates.
CHARACTERS
[Link] are aquatic; cold blooded vertebrates.
[Link] body is divisible into head, trunk and tail. Neck is absent.
[Link] has a spindle shaped body. It is helpful in swimming.
[Link] body is covered by scales. They are placoid scales, cycloid scales, ctenoid scales, ganoid scales etc.
[Link] is by gills. Gills are the extensions of the pharynx. In the elasmobranches fishes, the gills will open
separate. In bony fishes the gill slits are covered by operculum.
[Link] the head a pair of nostrils are present internal nostril are absent. In Dipnoi Internal nostrils are
present
[Link] the head a pair of eyes is present.
[Link] the lateral sides of the body LATERAL LINE SENSE organs are present. They detect the pressure changes of
water.
[Link] body shows paired and unpaired fins. Pelvic and pectoral fins are paired. Dorsal and ventral fins are unpaired.
They maintain balance in water. They are useful for locomotion.
[Link] digestive system is well developed. In the intestine of shark scroll valve Is present. The
nervous system contains brain and spinal cord. Brain is small & it will not occupy the entire
cranial cavity.
2.10 pairs of cranial nerves are present.
[Link] are mesonephrlc.
[Link] bladder is absent
[Link] skeleton of some fishes is made by cartilage. They are called cartilage fishes. In some
fishes the skeleton is made by bone. They are called bony fishes.
[Link] some fresh water fishes accessory respiratory organs are present. They will take up aerial
respiration.
[Link] are separate. In male sharks claspers are present.
[Link] fishes are oviparous. Some fishes are viviparous.
[Link] the development of fishes amnion is not developed. Hence these animals are called
anamniotes.
Classification
Pisces divided in to 3 Classes
1. Placodemi- Body armer or
plate skinned, with jaw
(extinct)
2. Chondricthyes-contains
the cartilaginous fishes: they are
jawed vertebrates with paired fins,
paired nares, scales, a heart with
its chambers in series, and
skeletons made of cartilage rather
than bone.
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3. Osteichthyes- popularly
referred to as the bony fish, is
a diverse taxonomic group of
fish that have skeletons
primarily composed of
bone tissue, as opposed to
cartilage.
The head and pectoral girdles
are covered with large dermal
bones.
Chondricthyes divide in to two subclasses
• Elasmobranchii (sharks, rays, skates, and sawfish)
Members of this subclass are characterised by
having four (tawny nurse sharks have 4 pairs of
gills) to seven pairs of gill clefts opening
individually to the exterior, rigid dorsal fins and
small placoid scales on the skin.
• One order Selachii have sharp teeth modified
form of placoid scales.
• Holocephali (chimaeras, sometimes called
ghost sharks, which are sometimes
separated into their own class). They live close
to the bottom and feed on molluscs and other
invertebrates. The tail is long and thin and they
move by sweeping movements of the large
pectoral fins. The erectile spine in front of the
dorsal fin is sometimes venomous.
Osteichthyes divide in to 3 sub class
• 1. Acanthodii- extinct
• 2. Actinopterygii- members of which are
known as ray-finned fishes, is a class or subclass of
the bony fishes.[1]
• The ray-finned fishes are so called because their
fins are webs of skin supported by bony or horny
spines ("rays).
3. Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish). Pectoral
and pelvic fins have articulations resembling
those of tetrapod limbs. These fins evolved
into the legs of the first tetrapod land
vertebrates, amphibians. It divide in to 2
order. Crossoperigii (letimeria) and Dipnoi
(protopterus)
Actinopterygii divide in to 3 infraclass
• 1. Chondrostii- is a group of primarily
cartilaginous fish showing some degree of ossification.
The cartilaginous condition is thought to be derived, and
the ancestors of this group were bony fish with fully
ossified skeletons. It divide in to 2 order 1.
palaeoniscoidei, 2. acipenceroidei
• 2 Holostei- Holosteans share with other non-
teleost ray-finned fish a mixture of characteristics of
teleosts and sharks. eg. Amia
• 3 Teleostei- (complete bone) teleosts have
a movable premaxilla and corresponding modifications in
the jaw musculature which make it possible for them to
protrude their jaws outwards from the mouth. This is of
great advantage, enabling them to grab prey and
draw it into the mouth. It divide in to 9 superorder. One is
extinct
Scoliodon:- dog Fish
•
Classification:
Phylum- Chordata
Subphylum-Vertebrata
Superclass – Gnathosomata
Class- chondricthyse
Subclass- Selachii
Order- Euselachii
Genus- Scoliodon
• The class is divided into two subclasses: Elasmobranchii
(sharks, rays, skates, and sawfish) and Holocephali (
chimaeras, sometimes called ghost sharks, which are
sometimes separated into their own class).
Characters
[Link] and Habitat of Scoliodon:
The shark is a marine, carnivorous and predaceous animal. It eats small pelagic schooling and bottom living bony
fishes, including anchovies, codlet (Bregmacero-tidae), burrowing gobies (Tripauchenidae) and Bombay ducks
(Harpadontidae) as well as shrimps and cuttle fish.
2. Geographical Distribution of Scoliodon:
Scoliodon has a wide geographical distribution ranging from Zanzibar to Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Ceylon to the Malay
Archipelago of the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, Eastern Pacific (from Mexico to Panama), West Indies and eas
tern coasts of South America. Fossils of Scoliodon have been discovered in the geological strata from the lower
Eocene to later periods.
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[Link] is an elongated spindle-shaped animal. It has a laterally compressed
body. A fully-developed specimen of the genus attains a length of about 60 cm. The
body is divisible into head, trunk and tail. The head is dorsoventrally flattened and
terminates anteriorly into a dorsoventrally compressed snout.
4. The tail bears a heterocercal type of caudal fin, i.e., the posterior end of the
vertebral column is bent upwards and lies in the dorsal or epichordal lobe.
5. The mouth is a very wide crescentic aperture lying on the ventral side of the
head near its anterior end.
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6. It is bounded by upper and lower jaws, each is beset with one or two rows of
sharply pointed and backwardly directed teeth to catch the slippery prey.
7. The teeth are replaced if these are broken. The teeth of Scliodon are modified
scales. The scales cover its body and extend inside the jaws to serve as teeth.
8. As in other fishes, Scoliodon bears unpaired and paired fins. Median fins re two
dorsal, caudal and an anal and paired pectoral and pelvics
9. Scoliodon is viviparous i.e. produce young one.
Sphyrna: Hammer headed shark
• Classification:
Phylum- Chordata
Subphylum-Vertebrata
Superclass – Gnathosomata
Class- chondricthyse
Subclass- Selachii
Order- Euselachii
Genus- Sphyrna
Sphyrna: Hammer headed shark
• Characters:
1. Habit and Habitat: Preferring shallow waters less than 20 m (65 ft.), smooth
hammerheads lives close to shore over continental shelves and inshore waters
such as bays and estuaries.
2. Geographical Distribution: This species is found worldwide in temperate waters.
In the western Atlantic Ocean, this species is found from Canada south to the Virgin
Islands and from Brazil south to Argentina.
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3. Head broadly arched and hammer-shaped and lacking an indentation at midline
(“smooth”)
4. The cephalophoil is broad and flattened with a rounded un-notched anterior
margin. The head is indented opposite each nostril. The mouth is strongly arched.
Pelvic fins are straight ending in nearly concave rear margins.
5. There are 26-32 triangular, smooth-edged teeth in each side of the upper jaw
and 25-30 smooth or weakly serrated teeth in the lower.
6. Feeding mainly on squid and boney fish, but crustaceans and smaller sharks and
rays have been reported as well.
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7. The species is viviparous with the eggs hatching inside the body and the
embryos nourished by a yolk sac placenta. Parturition (giving birth) and mating
happen during the spring, with females ovulating soon after giving birth.
Pristis: Saw Fish
• Classification:
Phylum- Chordata
Subphylum-Vertebrata
Superclass – Gnathosomata
Class- chondricthyse
Subclass- Selachii
Order- Euselachii
Genus- Pristis
Characters:
1. Habitat
• Sawfish inhabit the shallow coastal waters in tropical, subtropical and warm-
temperate waters. They are typically found close to shore lying on muddy and
sandy bottoms, in bays, estuaries, and lagoons. They rarely descend to depths
greater than 33 feet
• 2. Geographical Distribution
The largetooth sawfish (P. pristis) and its close relative the smalltooth sawfish (P.
pectinata) are the only two sawfish species to be found in the western Atlantic
Ocean
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3. The head is ventrally flattened with the mouth and gills located underneath and
the eyes positioned dorsally.
4. Their most distinctive feature is their long flat rostral “saw” – studded with
rostral teeth along the margins. These “teeth” are set deeply in hard cartilage and
do not grow back if the root becomes damaged.
5. The buccal teeth of the largetooth sawfish are curved anteriorly with an obtuse
cutting edge. The teeth are larger than those in the smalltooth sawfish, with about
12 functional rows in each jaw. The number of teeth increases as the sawfish
matures. Newborn largetooth sawfish have 70 teeth and larger individuals have
approximately 80-90.
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6. Largetooth sawfish feed primarily on benthic crustaceans and other
invertebrates it stirs up from the substrate with its saw. The saw may also be used
to disable prey by stunning small schooling fish such as mullet and smaller herrings
before consuming them.
7. Pristis is ovoviviparous. It’s eggs are retained in the uterus and the embryos
develop while being nourished by a yolk sac
Torpedo- electric ray
• Classification:
Phylum- Chordata
Subphylum-Vertebrata
Superclass – Gnathosomata
Class- chondricthyse
Subclass- Selachii
Order- Euselachii
Genus- Torpedo
Characters:
1. Habitat
This demersal species prefers soft bottoms including sandy flats and seagrass beds,
typically in inshore locations although it is occasionally observed in deeper waters.
It is most commonly observed in tropical waters to 1,312 feet (400 m) in depth
within its geographical range.
2. Geographical Distribution
• he common torpedo resides in the eastern Atlantic Ocean in the southern Bay of
Biscay and throughout the Mediterranean to Angola.
[Link] disc of the common torpedo is circular in shape with a nearly straight front edge. The eyes and spiracles are small
with the lateral and posterior rims of the spiracles possessing low knobs which tend to decrease in size as the individual
ages.
[Link] the spiracles, on the nape is a pair of mucous pores and on either side of the head are two large, kidney-shaped
electric organs that are visible just beneath the skin.
3. A wide, quadrangular flap of skin is located between the nostrils, almost reaching the mouth.
4. Five pairs of gill slits are located on the ventral side of the disc.
[Link] distinct pelvic fins have rounded outer margins and the short thick tail possesses skin folds along both sides with
two dorsal fins located on the top, the first of which is slightly larger than the second.
[Link] caudal fin is triangular in shape with rounded corners and is roughly as long as the space between it and the first
dorsal fin.
[Link] smooth skin lacks dermal denticles.
8. The small teeth are arranged within the jaws in a dense quincunx patter, with 22-24 tooth rows in the upper jaw and 20-
22 tooth rows in the lower jaw. Each tooth has a single sharp cusp.
9. Adult common torpedos feed primarily on benthic bony fish such as soles, herring, gobies, mullet, goatfish, porgies,
dragonets, and jack mackerels.
10. Reproduction is via aplacental viviparity in which the embryos are nourished by yolk and supplemental uterine milk
also referred to as “histotroph” secreted by the mother.
Chimaera
• Classification:
Phylum- Chordata
Subphylum-Vertebrata
Superclass – Gnathosomata
Class- chondricthyse
Subclass- Holocephali
Genus- Chimaera
Habitat
• Chimaeras live in temperate ocean floors down to 2,600 m (8,500 ft) deep, with
few occurring at depths shallower than 200 m (660 ft). Exceptions include, the
rabbit fish and the spotted ratfish, which locally or periodically can be found at
relatively shallow depths. Consequently, these are also among the few species
from the chimaera order kept in public aquaria. They live in all the oceans except
for the Arctic and Antarctic.
• Chimaeras are characterized by large heads and elongate bodies that taper to a
whip-like tail.
• The skin is smooth and rubbery, completely lacking in scales or denticles.
• The four gill openings on each side of the head are covered by a fleshy
operculum.
• The pectoral fins of chimaeras are broad and wing-like and serve to propel the
fish through the water by a flapping motion much like underwater flying. All
chimaeras have two dorsal fins; the first is preceded by a stout and often toxic
spine, and the second is spineless.
• Adult males possess pelvic claspers that extend from the posterior edge of the
pelvic fins.
Mystus
• Classification:
Phylum- Chordata
Subphylum-Vertebrata
Superclass – Gnathosomata
Class- Osteichthyes
Subclass- Actinopterygii
infraclass- Teleostei
order- Cypriniformes
Genus- Mystus
• Head with distinctly long snout, mouth is transverse and terminal,
upper jaw is generally longer and 8 barbels- 2 nasal, 2 maxillary and
four mandibular.
• Adipose dorsal fin is well developed having a circular black spot.
• Pectoral fin with stronger spine
Heteropneustes
• Classification:
Phylum- Chordata
Subphylum-Vertebrata
Superclass – Gnathosomata
Class- Osteichthyes
Subclass- Actinopterygii
infraclass- Teleostei
order- Cypriniformes
Genus- Heteropneustes
• Commonly called Singhi.
• Head is flattened and covered with thin skin. Flat snout with mouth
and 4 pairs of barbles- 1 pair maxillary, 1 pair nasal and 2 pair
mandibular.
• Dorsal fin is short and without spine while pectoral fin is strong with
poison spine. Anal fin is elongated reach up the caudal fin and
separated by deep notch.
• It has accessory respiratory organ.
• Air bladder is also present.
Labeo
• Classification:
Phylum- Chordata
Subphylum-Vertebrata
Superclass – Gnathosomata
Class- Osteichthyes
Subclass- Actinopterygii
infraclass- Teleostei
order- Cypriniformes
Genus- Labeo
• Commonly known as Rohu.
• Head is prominent with blunt mouth, and have a pair of filamentous
barbels arise from upper lip.
• Cycloid scale is present.
• Paired fin is present and caudal fin is forked.
• Air bladder is present.
Exocoetus
• Classification:
Phylum- Chordata
Subphylum-Vertebrata
Superclass – Gnathosomata
Class- Osteichthyes
Subclass- Actinopterygii
infraclass- Teleostei
order- Beloniformes
Genus- Exocoetus
• Commonly known as Flying fish.
• Body covered with cycloid scales
• Pectoral fin is enormously elongated and form wing like structure.
Serve as parachute to sustain the fish in its gliding leap. Pectoral fin
with black spots.
• Air bladder is present.
• It is bony fish.
• The body is covered with cycloid scales.
• The mouth was wide and jaws bear teeth.
• It is a marine fish.
• The tails has hypobatic fins as a ventral lobe.
Echeneis
• Classification:
Phylum- Chordata
Subphylum-Vertebrata
Superclass – Gnathosomata
Class- Osteichthyes
Subclass- Actinopterygii
infraclass- Teleostei
order- Echeneiformes
Genus- Echeneis
• Commonly known as sucker fish.
• Head is depressed and furnished above with adhesive organ which is
modified 1st dorsal fin.
• Adhesive disc is flat, oval and transversely furrowed and is an effective
organ. It bears 21 to 28 transverse lamellae.
• Air bladder is absent.
Anguilla
• Classification:
Phylum- Chordata
Subphylum-Vertebrata
Superclass – Gnathosomata
Class- Osteichthyes
Subclass- Actinopterygii
infraclass- Teleostei
order- Anguilliformes
Genus- Anguilla
• Anguillid eels have a global distribution, and inhabit the waters of more than 150
countries. They are mainly found in tropical and temperate waters, except in the
Eastern Pacific and South Atlantic.
• They are catadromous fish, spending their adult lives in fresh water, but migrating
to the ocean to spawn.
• Commonly known as eel
• Body is elongated cylindrical and snake like.
• Have small or rudimentary scales.
• Dorsal,caudal and anal fin are confluent. Pectoral fin small and pelvic fin is
absent.
Hippocampus
• Classification:
Phylum- Chordata
Subphylum-Vertebrata
Superclass – Gnathosomata
Class- Osteichthyes
Subclass- Actinopterygii
infraclass- Teleostei
order- Syngnathiformes
Genus- Hippocampus
• Seahorses are mainly found in shallow tropical and temperate salt water throughout the world,
from about 45°S to 45°N.[6] They live in sheltered areas such as seagrass beds, estuaries, coral
reefs, and mangroves. Four species are found in Pacific waters from North America to South
America. In the Atlantic, Hippocampus erectus ranges from Nova Scotia to Uruguay. H.
zosterae, known as the dwarf seahorse, is found in the Bahamas.
• Commonly known as Sea horse.
• Head is produced anteriorly into tubular snout bearing terminal mouth.
• Trunk is compressed , somewhat elevated with 10-12 exoskeleton rings.
• Dorsal fin is small and single, pectoral fin is small , pelvic and caudal fin are absent. Female has
small fin.
• Male have brood pouch on the abdomen. In brood pouch ,eggs are retained until they hatch as
young one.
• It exhibits mimicry.
Diodon
• Classification:
Phylum- Chordata
Subphylum-Vertebrata
Superclass – Gnathosomata
Class- Osteichthyes
Subclass- Actinopterygii
infraclass- Teleostei
order- Tetradontiformes
Genus- Diodon
• Commonly known as porcupine fish.
• Body is globular and covered with movable dermal spines which are
organ of defense.
• Dorsal and anal fins are placed opposite to each other.
• Gills are 3 in number and covered by operculum.
Anabas
• Classification:
Phylum- Chordata
Subphylum-Vertebrata
Superclass – Gnathosomata
Class- Osteichthyes
Subclass- Actinopterygii
infraclass- Teleostei
order- Perciformes
Genus- Anabas
• Commonly known as climbing perch.
• Body is covered by ctenoid scales.
• Dorsal and anal fins are long and [Link] fin is fan shaped.
• Operculum bears backwardly directed spines.
• Have accessory respiratory organ