Distinguishing Characteristics of Fish www.miseagrant.umich.edu/flow
Unit 3, Lesson 1 MICHU-07-407 Copy Master Small, fleshy fin located between the dorsal fin the fin located between fleshy Small, Side fins mainly used for direction or for direction mainly used fins Side The caudal fin (tail fin) is used for propulsion. It propulsion. for fin (tail fin) is used caudal The Large fin on a fish’s back that varies in shape, in shape, fin on a fish’s back that varies Large Paired fins located on the belly or under belly or under located on the fins Paired Fin located on a fish’s underside behind pelvic fins. pelvic behind Fin located on a fish’s underside These “whiskers” near the mouth are used by are mouth the near “whiskers” These The size and position of the mouth indicates indicates mouth the of position size and The mouth indicates a fish that feeds within the water column. a fish that feeds within the indicates mouth Some lampreys are parasites and feed on other fish. *Lampreys are an exception. Mouth: mouth, downward-oriented or A ventral, what a fish eats. along snails and a fish that feeds on insects indicates or upward-directed bottom.* A forward or stream lake the fast swimmers. Fish with rounder caudal fins, such as round round as such fins, caudal Fish with rounder swimmers. fast slower. are goby, Anal fin: Barbels: food. fish to sense bottom-feeding Caudal fin: buoyancy. this affects a fish’s speed and in shape and varies generally are trout, as lake such fins, caudal Fish with forked Adipose fin: Adipose not does the adipose fin fins, other Unlike fin. caudal and purpose is unclear. Its or spines. have rays Pectoral fin: Pectoral slow swimming. for sometimes and “steering,” fin: Pelvic fins. pectoral Dorsal fin: Dorsal dorsal soft-rayed fish have single, Some position. size and fins that dorsal have split and bass, sunfish like Others, fins. fin stabilizes fish dorsal The part soft. and part spiny are assists with maneuverability. and rolling against (p2) Superior Adipose fin Adipose Asymmetrical Single dorsal fin
Forked, Ventral Anal fin Anal (p1) symmetrical Pectoral fin (p1), Pelvic fin (p2) fin (p1), Pectoral Split dorsal fin Terminal Rounded snout, tail shape, and presence or absence of unusual traits such as barbels (whiskers). Other Other (whiskers). as barbels such traits unusual of or absence presence and tail shape, snout, anal fin, and fins pelvic fins, of pectoral location and structure fish include used to identify traits scale counts. and length, standard depth, body Distinguishing characteristics combined with information on geographic range, help scientists, scientists, help range, on geographic with information combined characteristics Distinguishing can be that characteristics fish Some fish. identify and observe naturalists amateur and anglers of shape and mouth position fin(s), dorsal of location and structure include easily compared Distinguishing Characteristics of Fish of Characteristics Distinguishing Fish family cards www.miseagrant.umich.edu/flow
Unit 3, Lesson 1 MICHU-07-406 Copy Master Illustration: E. Damstra Illustration: E. Damstra Illustration: E. Damstra Illustration: E. Damstra Illustration: E. Damstra Illustration: E. Damstra Illustration: E. Damstra Illustration: E. Damstra Fish family cards www.miseagrant.umich.edu/flow
Unit 3, Lesson 1 MICHU-07-406 Copy Master
Fish family id card guide for teachers
Chinook salmon Round goby
Burbot Pike
Lake sturgeon Walleye Illustration: E. Damstra Illustration: E. Damstra
Smallmouth bass Black bullhead Illustration: E. Damstra
Yellow perch Longnose Sucker
Sea lamprey Lake whitefish Photo: Ted Lawrence Ted Photo: Illustration: E. Damstra
Illustrations: E. Damstra Note: Fish size not to scale Generic fish Graphic: characteristics of fish www.miseagrant.umich.edu/flow
Unit 3, Lesson 1 MICHU-07-406 Copy Master
This graphic is a composite illustration that shows a variety of distinguishing characteristics. Scientists use these and many other characteristics to correctly classify and identify fish.
dorsal fins
adipose fin
snout
caudal (tail) fin
mouth
anal fin barbels pectoral fin pelvic fin Fish Species & Habitat Cards - Teacher Master www.miseagrant.umich.edu/flow
Unit 3, Lesson 1 MICHU-07-406 Copy Master
Salmon and Trout Family, Salmonidae
Illustration: E. Damstra Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha n Native to Pacific Ocean from southern California to Alaska. n Introduced to Great Lakes in 1967. n Habitat: Deep open waters of the Great Lakes. Spawns in tributaries in autumn. Fish Species & Habitat Cards - Teacher Master www.miseagrant.umich.edu/flow
Unit 3, Lesson 1 MICHU-07-406 Copy Master
Perch Family, Percidae
Illustration: E. Damstra
Yellow perch Perca flavescens n Important food and sport fish throughout southern part of Great Lakes region. n Split dorsal fin. Body has distinct vertical bands. n Habitat: Variety of locations; quiet ponds, streams with little current; large and small lakes including the Great Lakes. Fish Species & Habitat Cards - Teacher Master www.miseagrant.umich.edu/flow
Unit 3, Lesson 1 MICHU-07-406 Copy Master
Lamprey Family, Petromyzontidae
Illustration: E. Damstra Sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus n Primitive, parasitic fish native to the Atlantic Ocean. n Eel-like body shape. Round mouth. Mottled coloring. n Habitat: Large population in northern Lake Huron and St. Marys River. Larval stage spent in silty stream bottoms.
Photo: Ted Lawrence Fish Species & Habitat Cards - Teacher Master www.miseagrant.umich.edu/flow
Unit 3, Lesson 1 MICHU-07-406 Copy Master
Whitefish Subfamily, Coregoninae
Illustration: E. Damstra
Lake whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis n Most valuable commercially caught fish in Great Lakes. n Long, deep-bodied fish related to salmon and trout. n Habitat: Deep, open waters of the Great Lakes; cold, deep inland lakes. Fish Species & Habitat Cards - Teacher Master www.miseagrant.umich.edu/flow
Unit 3, Lesson 1 MICHU-07-406 Copy Master
Sturgeon Family, Acipenseridae
Illustration: E. Damstra
Lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens n Primitive, long-lived fish native to Great Lakes. n Asymmetric, shark-like tail. n Habitat: Nearshore waters at depths of 15 to 30 feet. Fish Species & Habitat Cards - Teacher Master www.miseagrant.umich.edu/flow
Unit 3, Lesson 1 MICHU-07-406 Copy Master
Perch Family, Percidae
Illustration: E. Damstra
Walleye Sander vitreus n Popular sport fish in the Great Lakes. n Slender body with pointed snout. Split dorsal fin. n Habitat: Moderately fertile lakes with primarily sandy basins. Fish Species & Habitat Cards - Teacher Master www.miseagrant.umich.edu/flow
Unit 3, Lesson 1 MICHU-07-406 Copy Master
Sunfish and Bass Family, Centrarchidae
Illustration: E. Damstra
Smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu n Popular sport fish in Canadian and U.S. waters. n Narrow, oval-shaped body. Split dorsal fin with short fin spines in front. n Habitat: Clear, gravel-bottom runs in flowing rivers; shallow rocky areas of lakes. Fish Species & Habitat Cards - Teacher Master www.miseagrant.umich.edu/flow
Unit 3, Lesson 1 MICHU-07-406 Copy Master
North American Catfish Family, Ictaluridae
Illustration: E. Damstra
Black bullhead Ameiurus melas n Scaleless, bottom-dwelling fish. n Long barbels (whiskers) around mouth. n Habitat: Deep pools in small to large rivers; lakes. Fish Species & Habitat Cards - Teacher Master www.miseagrant.umich.edu/flow
Unit 3, Lesson 1 MICHU-07-406 Copy Master
Goby Family, Gobiidae
Illustration: E. Damstra
Round goby Neogobius melanostomus n Invasive, bottom-dwelling fish. n Mottled coloring with frog-like raised eyes. n Habitat: Nearshore areas of the Great Lakes and tributaries. Fish Species & Habitat Cards - Teacher Master www.miseagrant.umich.edu/flow
Unit 3, Lesson 1 MICHU-07-406 Copy Master
Pike Family, Esocidae
Illustration: E. Damstra
Northern pike Esox lucius n Fast-swimming predator that feeds on other fish and animals. n Long, slender body with duck-billed snout. n Habitat: Cool to moderately warm, weedy lakes, ponds and sluggish rivers. Fish Species & Habitat Cards - Teacher Master www.miseagrant.umich.edu/flow
Unit 3, Lesson 1 MICHU-07-406 Copy Master
Sucker Family, Catostomidae
Illustration: E. Damstra
Eastern Longnose Sucker Catostomus catostomus n One of many bottom-dwelling species in the sucker family. n Ventral mouth used to locate food in bottom sediment. n Habitat: Deep, cold lakes. Spawns in streams and rivers. Fish Species & Habitat Cards - Teacher Master www.miseagrant.umich.edu/flow
Unit 3, Lesson 1 MICHU-07-406 Copy Master
Illustration: E. Damstra
Burbot Lota lota n Native top predator in deep waters of the Great Lakes. n Two dorsal fins; first is small, second is long. n Habitat: Medium to large streams and cold, deep lakes. Dichotomous key: START: Great Lakes Fish Families Pick a fish card
Unit 3, Lesson 1 One fin How many dorsal fins does the fish have? Use this dichotomous key to organize distinguishing characteristics and identify 10 common fish families. Note: Key is designed for use with Project FLOW Great Lakes Fish Cards. Does the fish YES have an adipose NO fin?
Does the fish Is the tail YES have NO YES NO asymmetrical? barbels?
Family: Does the fish Family: Family: Trout, Salmon LARGE have a large, SMALL Catfish Sturgeon and Whitefish MOUTH elongated mouth MOUTH or small ventral Family: mouth? Family: Are the scales Pike Sucker SMALL LARGE small or large?
Subfamily: Subfamily: Trout Whitefish and Salmon
Page 1 Dichotomous key: Great Lakes fish families dorsal fins This graphic is a composite illustration that shows a variety of distinguishing adipose fin characteristics. Scientists use these and
many other characteristics to correctly snout classify and identify fish. caudal Two fins (tail) fin mouth
anal fin barbels pectoral fin pelvic fin Is one dorsal fin YES spiny and one NO smooth?
Does the fish Are the two fins YES NO YES have a round NO connected? mouth
Is the caudal Family: Family: Family: FORKED (tail) fin rounded ROUNDED Sunfish & Bass Lamprey Freshwater Cod or forked?
Family: Family: Perch Goby
Determine YES the species: NO Does the fish have vertical stripes? Species: Species: Yellow Perch Walleye www.miseagrant.umich.edu/flow MICHU-07-410 Copy Master Page 2 Dichotomous key: Great Lakes fish families