Subdivision Elopomorpha • 4 orders – Elopiformes - tenpounders – Albuliformes - bonefishes – Anguiliformes - eels – Notacanthiformes – spiny eels • 24 families, 156 genera, 856 species Subdivision Elopomorpha, Order Elopiformes • Tenpounders, ladyfish and tarpons • Compressed body • Deeply forked caudal fin • Large gular bone • Maxilla part of gape – two upper jaw biting bones • Record fecundity – 12 million eggs • Marine, shallow tropical regions 1 Subdivision Elopomorpha, Order Albuliformes – Bone Fishes • Small group, 12 species in two genera. Subdivision Elopomorpha, Order Anguilliformes • Eels • 738 species, 141 genera, 15 families Nemichthyidae • shallow water, except Nemichthyidae • marine (except Anguillidae), tropical to temperate Anguilidae Congridae Muraneidae 2 Subdivision Elopomorpha, Order Anguilliformes • Sackpharynx fishes, gulpers, swallowers • Arguably the most anatomically different vertebrates Subdivision Elopomorpha, Order Anguilliformes, Anguilidae – Freshwater eels • Pectoral fins present • Mostly catadromous – • Most benthic, adapted to getting into/out of crevices 3 Subdivision Elopomorpha, Order Anguilliformes, Anguilidae – Freshwater eels • American and European eels once thought to be same species • Population structure within species not clear – how do they “know” where to go? • Conservation – • Fishery - Eel larvae Size distribution of american ell larvae Size distribution of European ell larvae • Elvers sold to Asian markets for up to $2000 a pound • Not clear if fishery is sustainable – Catadramous and semelparous 4 Elopomorpha Osteoglossiformes Hiodontiformes (not shown) Teleostei •Ctenoid, cycloid or ganoid scales •Lack paired gular plate & most lack any gular plate •Branchiostegal rays present •Homocercal caudal fin •Lack spiral valve in intestine Order Osteoglossiformes • 4 families, 28 genera, 218 species • Large (1-3 m) • All freshwater • Physostomous • suprabranchial organ • ‘bony tongues’ • Elongate – 60-100 vertebrae • 2 major lineages – 1) Osteoglossidae – arrowana, arapaima, butterflyfish – 2) Notopteridae, Mormyridae - knifefishes, elephantfishes 5 Order Osteoglossiformes • Gondwana origin, current African, South American and Australian distribution Order Osteoglossiformes • Group also includes knifefishes, elephantfishes, mooneyes • Knifefish (featherbacks) – knifefishes • Elephant fishes – elephant fishes 6 Order Hiodontiformes • Closely related to Osteoglossiformes (former member of group) • Nocturnal, only rods in retina Osteoglossiformes Hiodontiformes (not shown) Clupeiformes Teleostei •Ctenoid, cycloid or ganoid scales •Lack paired gular plate & most lack any gular plate •Branchiostegal rays present •Homocercal caudal fin •Lack spiral valve in intestine 7 Order Clupeiformes • 5 families, 84 genera, 364 species – swimbladder/ear connection – Pelvic scute • Prominent families: Clupeidae, Engraulidae Dorosoma petenense Harengula jaguana Order Clupeiformes, Family Clupeidae • Usually have abdominal scutes • Compressed body • Subterminal mouth • Teeth small or absent Alosa alabamae Dorosoma cepedianum 8 Order Clupeiformes, Family Engraulidae • Hyomandibular well in front of quadrate • Mostly marine, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific • Planktivores Clupeimorph “FRTing” 9 Alepocephaliformes Teleostei •Ctenoid, cycloid or ganoid scales •Lack paired gular plate & most lack any gular plate •Branchiostegal rays present •Homocercal caudal fin •Lack spiral valve in intestine Alepocephaliformes, slickheads and tubeshoulders • 3 families, 14 genera and 38 species • Deep sea • Uniform dark bodies • Reduced ossification of opercle 10 Subdivision Euteleostei, Superorder Ostariophysi • 5 Orders, 59 families, 960 genera, 6507 species • 75% of freshwater species, 27% of all species • Found on all landmasses (except Greenland & Antarctica) • Characteristics – club cells in dermis – trend of increasing development of olfactory system – 2 series: Anotophysi & Otophysi – – Larvae not leptocephalus Anotophysi: Gonorhynchiformes - milkfishes Otophysi: Cypriniformes - minnows Gymnotiformes – weakly electric fishes Characiformes – tetras, characins Siluriformes - catfish Anotophysi, Order Gonorhynchiformes, milkfish, sandfish and shelleaters • 4 families, 7 genera, 37 families • No Weberian apparatus • Mostly marine • Single short dorsal and anal fin, no adipose fin • Some obligate air breathers • Clear pelagic larvae • Patch of conical teeth on gill arches 11 Otophysi •Orders •Cypriniformes •Characiformes •Siluriformes •Gymnotiformes •Characters •Weberian apparatus •Most have adipose fin •Schreckstoff (other taxa possible) Otophysi, Order Cypriniformes, minnows, carps and suckers • 6 families, 321 genera, 3268 species • North America & Europe • Mouth toothless (jaws and palate) • Pharyngeal teeth • No adipose fin • Spinelike ray in dorsal fin • Oviparous • Omnivores, detritivores, few piscivores 12.