Ichthyology (Perciformes)

• Lecture Outline

– O. Perciformes

 

• Assignments

– pp. 267-270

 

 

Perciformes

1) Fin spines

2) Dorsal fin double or two distinct parts

3) Pelvic fin thoracic or jugular

4) Pelvic fins with one spine and 5 or less rays

5) 17 or fewer caudal fin rays

6) Scales ctenoid

7) Premaxilla only bone bordering upper jaw

8)     Obitosphenoid, mesocoracoid, and intermuscular bones absent

9) Swimbladder physoclistous

Serranidae

1) Sea basses

2) Three spines on operculum

a) Middle spine largest

3) Complete lateral line

4) Caudal fin rounded

5) Long continuous dorsal fin (7 – 13 spines)

6) Hermaphrodite

Moronidae

1) Two dorsal fins

a) First with 8 – 10 spines, second with 1 spine and 10-13 soft rays

2) Opercle with two spines

3) Lateral line extends to posterior margin of caudal fin

 

Centrarchidae

1) Sunfish, basses, crappie

2) Two dorsal fins, one w/spines one soft

3) Anal fin spines either < 4 or > 5

Percidae

1) Darters, perches, and pike-perches

2) < 3 anal fin spines

3) Opercle with one posterior spine

4) Two spearate or narrowly joined dorsal fins

5) Branchiostegal membrane not joined to isthmus

Echeneididae

1) Remoras or sharksuckers

2) Sucking disk is modification of dorsal fins

 

Carangidae

1) Jacks and Pompanos

2) Deeply forked tail

3) Narrow caudal peduncle

4) Fine cycloid scales

5) Cooperative hunting

 

Sciaenidae

1) Croakers and drums

2) Deeply notched dorsal fins

3) Rounded or emarginate caudal fin

4) 1 or 2 anal spines

Chaetodontidae 

1) Butterflyfishes

2) Small, protractile mouth with many tiny teeth

3) Pelvic axillary process at base of pelvic fin

4) No spine at angle of opercle

Pomacanthidae

1) Anglefishes

2) Highly compressed body

3) Pelvic axillary process at base of pelvic fin absent

4) Strong spine at angle of opercle

Cichlidae

1) Cichlids

2) Single nostril on each side

3) Lateral line interrupted

4) High degree of parental care

Pomacentridae

1) Damselfishes

2) Single nostril on each side

3) Highly compressed body

4) Small mouth

5) Anal fin with 2 spines

Labridae

1) Wrasses

2) Mouth protractile

3) Jaw teeth mostly separate and projecting outward

4) Anal fin with 4-6 spines

Blenniidae

1) Lack scales

2) Fewer dorsal spines than soft rays

3) Incisor-like teeth set in single row

Gobiidae

1) Sucking disc created by pelvic fins

2) Rounded caudal fin

3)  Blunt head and large eyes

4) Small size

Jawfish

Scombridae

1) Mackerels and tunas

2) First dorsal fin depresses into groove

3) Series of small finlets

4) Tail fin lunate

5) Caudal peduncle narrow