Vertebrates (subphylum vertebrata)
Possess a backbone (aka vertebral column, spine) Vertebrae=Dorsal row of hollow skeletal elements (usually bone) Nerve cord=spinal cord, protected by vertebrae, (part of nervous system), ends in brain Bilateral symmetry, endoskeleton
Fish Form & Function Goals for this lab
Learn about fish: Topics
Skin/scales Coloration Locomotion Fins Muscles
Discuss 3 classes of fish Dissect different fish- up to 3 different forms Write paper comparing different fish forms
Due next Monday/Tuesday Details to follow
Global Habitats
41.2%
58.2%
39.9%
Fish importance
Appeared > 500 mya Comprise half of vertebrate species Feed on all types of marine organisms some organisms previously discussed use fish as their home (bacteria to crustaceans) Some animals eat fish Most economically important marine organism Vital source of protein to millions of humans Ground up for chicken feed, fertilizer, leather, glue, vitamins obtained from them Some kept as pets
Fish Morphology
Skin
Color
Bioluminescence
Swimming Locomotion
Fins
Muscles
Skin
Organ of the body Consists of connective tissue Muscles pull against skin tissue & skeleton
Key component of the muscle-tendon-tail fin system
Layers
Epidermis Typically 250 m thick 10-30 cell layers Range 20 m 3 mm Dermis
Fish Skin
Function:
Hold fish together
Serves as barrier against abrasive agents Osmoregulation (what does this mean?) Permeable respiratory function Biomechanical properties in sharks
Fish Skin
Derivatives:
Mucous formed in epidermis cells
Protect against infection
Constantly shed to remove bacteria and fungus Ex. Clingfish lack scales, protect their bodies by a thick layer of mucous
Bone is also skin derivative
scales, most important
Fish Scales
First appear as dermal bone Found in fossil of Cambrian period (570 mya)
Layered bone, solid armor-constrained movement
Evolved smaller and reduced into scales 5 types of scales (examples with images to follow)
Placoid
Cosmoid Ganoid Cycloid Ctenoid
Fish Scales: Placoid
Found in elasmobranchs (sharks & rays) teeth like, same composition
As fish grows, do not increase in size, instead new scales are added
Fish Scales: Cosmoid
In the Sarcopterygii (fish with fleshy lobe fins), primitive fish
Less evolved than Elasmobranchs and Actinopterygii (fish with rayed fins)
Scales found in fossil record but not in any living fish,
Except in simplified version of coelocanth and lungfish
Fish Scales: Ganoid
In primitive Actinopterygii Found in reedfish, polypterus, gar, bowfin, and sturgeons Were thick heavy scales when first appeared Rhomboid-shaped Developed into teleost scales
Fish Scales: Teleost scales
Two types: Ctenoid-higher fish
Cycloid-soft-rayed, anchovies, sardine
Mineralized surface layer & inner collagenous layer
Ctenoid scales
Scales surrounded by dermis, in dermal pockets
Grow from top, bottom, and insides; overlap lower part Scales grow with fish Characterized by concentric ridges (growth increments)
Cycloid scales
Coloration
Coloration
Fish display a multitude of patterns involving 2 or more colors, in many tints and shades, arranged in spots, stripes, patches, and blotches 3 Types of coloration predominant in oceans Silver pelagic, upper zone
Red deeper zone (~ 500 m)
Black or violet deep sea Countershaded near shore and colorful in coral reefs
Coloration
Chromatophores Colored cells from which light is reflected off
Located in the skin (dermis), eyes
Various colors/hues-combination of different chromatophores Functional Roles of Colors in Fishes-examples of each to follow Social Roles Advertisement
Mimicry
Hiding Protection from sun (especially larvae)
Coloration: Social roles
Cleaner Fish: distinctive markings recognized by larger fish
Coloration:
Advertisement: Bright, bold and showy males indicate:
Reproductive availability, either permanently or seasonally, e.g. cichlids, wrasses, minnows, sunfish
Unpalatable or venomous, e.g. lionfishes
Mimicry Disguise: Disguises: look like something in habitat, e.g. leaffish, sargasso fish Mimicry: mimic distasteful species
Coloration: Concealment
General color resemblance resemble background
Variable color resemblance change with background, e.g. flatfish
Obliterative shading countershading, dark above, light below (invisible fish) Disruptive coloration disruptive contours that breakup outline; bold stripes, bars, false eye spots Coincident disruptive coloration joining together of unrelated parts of the body to reduce recognition; e.g. sea dragon
Coloration
Bioluminescence
Most luminous fish found 300-1000 m depths, few shallow 3 Types of light producing methods: Self-luminous (on/off) Symbiotic bacteria nurtured in special glands Acquire from other bioluminescent organisms- diet contains light-emitting compounds Function: Concealment by counter-illumination - ventral placement matches background from above, against attack from below Dorsal photophores safeguard against predators from above Advertisement for courting, maintaining territory, to startle and confuse predators, and feeding
Fish Locomotion
Means of Locomotion: Simplest form: Passive drifting of larval fish
Many can:
Burrow Walk, hop, or crawl
Glide
Fly Most can: Swim in a variety of ways
Types of fins:
Fins
Paired fins: pectoral and pelvic Median fins: dorsal, caudal, anal, & adipose
Fins
Main functions: Swimming increase surface area w/o increasing mass Stabilizers yaw, stability-dorsal and anal fins - brake, pitch, roll, reverse -pectoral/pelvic
thrust with caudal fin
Modifications in fins: Defense spines, enlarge fish Locomotion modified for crawling, flying, gliding Hunting lures, sensory organs
Respiratory organ lungfish, supply oxygen to eggs
Fins
Soft rays vs. Spines
Soft rays: Usually soft and not pointed Segmented Usually branched Bilateral, w/left and right halves
Spines: Usually hard and pointed
Unsegmented
Unbranched Solid
Fish Muscles
Muscles provide power for swimming Myomers=bands of muscle, run along sides of body, attached to backbone Constitute up to 80% of the fish itself Much hardly used except during emergencies Dont have to contend with same effect of gravity Fish muscle arrangement not suitable on land Cow: 30% muscle/wt Tuna: 60% muscle/wt Contraction causes oscillation of body and tail Body bends as one side contracts b/c of an incompressible notochord or vertebral column Caused by bands of muscle = myomeres
Fish Muscles
Major fibers (see handout): Red, pink, and white Pink intermediate between red and white Muscle types do not intermingle Different motor systems used for different swimming conditions Red cruising White short duration, burst swimming Pink sustained swimming, used after red and before white
Fish-Body shapes-see textbook for images (Figure 8.9)
Fusiform-spindle shaped, e.g. tuna
Compressiform-laterally compressed, angelfish, butterfly fish
Anguilliform-eel-like
Filiform-even smaller anguilliform, e.g. snipe eel
Body shapes continued
Depressiform-flatfish, rays, flounder Taeniform-gunnel Sagittiform-e.g. pike
Globiform-e.g. lumpsucker
Fish Locomotion
Swimming classified into 2 generic categories: Periodic (or steady or sustained)- e.g. running marathons, for covering large distance at constant speed Transient (or unsteady) e.g. like running sprints, used for catching prey or avoiding predators
Isolate and move only fin(s)
pectoral
Rajiform - pectoral Diodontiform - pectoral Labriform -pectoral oscillate
anal
Gymnotiform -anal
dorsal
Amiiform -dorsal
Tetraodontiform anal+dorsal Balistiform anal+dorsal
Flex caudal portion, fast swimmers
Carangiform
Subcarangiform
Ostraciform-rigid body, caudal main propulsion Thunniform-rigid body, caudal main propulsion
Undulate the body: eels, elongate fish
Anguilliform
(Wavelike)
(fanlike)
Tuna: Ultimate Living Swimming Machine
Swim continuously feeding, courtship, rest, reproduction
Tuna: Ultimate Living Swimming Machine hydrodynamic adaptations
Big size-high performance engine Streamlining-spindle shaped & rigid body Small structures at various parts of the body to improve swimming efficiency and reduce drag, e.g.
Eyes flush with body dont protrude
Adipose eyelid - smooth, reduce drag
Depression grooves for dorsal, pelvic, & pectoral fins at high speed Keeled peduncle - cutting through water Finlets for cross-flow - delayed separation
Tuna: Ultimate Living Swimming Machine
Must swim to survive: No gas bladder, rigid body, ram ventilation High blood volume, large heart, maintain warm core (25oC) School to utilize vortices generated by other fish (~like race car driver who slipstreams and then slingshots past Slipstream: The area of reduced leading car) pressure or forward suction Adopt swim-glide for energy savings (like birds)
produced by and immediately behind a fast-moving object as it moves through air or water.
High narrow tails propulsion with least effort, used to design efficient propulsion systems for ships
Fish-mouth types (some)
Large mouth with teeth (e.g. barracuda) Long snout/small mouth (e.g. butterfly fish)
Protrusible mouth (e.g. slipmouth)
Beak-like mouth (e.g. parrotfish)
Large mouth (e.g. herrings)
Fish
Three Classes: Agnatha
Chondrithyes
Osteicthyes
Class Agnatha
Jawless fishes Ex. Hagfish, lampreys No paired fins Gill holes, no slits or operculum
Large sucking mouth with teeth
Scavengers As a defense mechanism, secrete slime then tie itself in knots to escape predators Also tie in knots for pulling food off carcasses, and cleaning slime from body
Class Agnatha
Hagfishs mouth
http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/oceanography/faculty/csmith/index.html
Class Chondricthyes
Sharks and rays Skeleton = cartilage, not bone Paired fins-efficient swimming Gill slits exposed, no operculum Large oil-filled liver Heterocercal tail (upper longer than lower lobe) Placoid scales-skin like sandpaper
Class Osteichthyes
Bony fish
Largest group of living vertebrates Bones for skeletons
Gill covering (operculum)
Swim bladder (balloon-like) Homocercal tails (even) Cycloid & Ctenoid scales
