Fish Morphology,
Taxonomy and Fish ID
SOURCE:
G R A C E V. L O P E Z
N F R D I T E H N I C A L S TA F F
Outline
Overview on fishes
Fish morphology and external
anatomy
Classification and nomenclature
Taxonomic tools
Fishes - An Overview
Generally a cold-blooded animal
typically …
with have fins,
backbone,
breathe primarily dependent
underwater on water as a medium
through the in which to live
gills,
Warm -blooded fish
Lampris
Guttatus
Opah
• first known warm -
blooded fish
Thunnus
orientalis
Bluefin Tuna
Fishes - An Overview
Fishes constitute almo
st half the total
number of known
modern vertebrates.
Fishbase contains
33,000 fish species
(Apr. 2015).
– about one-tenth
are currently
present in the
• centerPhilippines
of marine bio-
diversity & global priority
for conservation
• More than 3,000 fish
species live in the Coral
Triangle
Fishes - An Overview
Percentage distribution of bony
fishes by water habitat (Wooton,
1990)
Unlike other vertebrates,
new fish species continue
to be discovered at a
high rate.
Named after
Dr. Mudjekeewis Santos
Fish Morphology &
Anatomy
FISH
EXTERNAL
ANATOMY
External Anatomy of a dorsal surface – the side facing skyward
Fish Dorsal fin ventral surface – the side directed downward
lateral surfaces – the sides of the fish
Dorsal surface
Lateral surface
fin
dal
C au
Paired Fins
Pectoral fin
pectoral fins – inserted at the
side of the body just
behind the gill cover,
Pelvic fin represent the forelimb
Ventral surface pelvic fins – inserted at the
Head Trunk Tail sides of the body in
Anal fin varying positions,
represents the hind
limb
Head – extends from the tip of the snout to the hind margin of
the operculum Unpaired Fins
dorsal fin – situated at the median
Body – divided into trunk & tail region (junction between trunk & line of the back
tail is externally located by the position of the vent or anus)
anal fin – situated at the median
line behind the vent/anus
caudal fin/tail fin – situated around
the tail
External Anatomy of a Shark
Lateral View
External Anatomy of a Fish
positions of premaxilla and maxilla
Structures on ventral side of head
Fish Body Shapes
Taeniform/ribbon-shapedFiliform
Fusiform/torpedo-shaped
Compresiform Sagittiform Anguilliform/needle-shape
Depresiform Globiform Box-like
form
Fish Mouth Shapes
Terminal/intermediate Superior type
type
Inferior type Lateral type
Fish Mouth Shapes
Beak-like Half-beak
Protractile
Spout shape/ tube
snout
Pelvic Fins Position
Thora
Abdom cic
inal
Spin
Jugul e
ar
Modified
sucker
(Pelvic fins
Pectoral Fins Shape & Position
Moderately Long and high on
Short &
long sides
rounded
large &
set low on
Short & set low on
body
body
Fan shaped
with spines
Falcate/
curved
Dorsal
Fin:
Fish
Gills
Lateral Line
System
• a line of special scales bearing sensory tubes
filled with mucous. This may be absent in some
fishes like the sardines, but if present, they may
be found single, double, or multiple in number
Scutes:
- Are actually hardened scales that form a
protective plating on the fish’s body (lateral or
ventral region)
found along the ventral region in
several Clupeid species
Corsele
t
• it is composed of small, minute to moderate scales
usually found behind the pectoral fins of Scombrids
Family Scombridae
(Tunas)
Keels
• are knife-like structures situated on the caudal peduncle
Acanthurus mata
(elongate Naso hexacanthus
surgeonfish) (sleek unicornfish)
Fins modifications
Adipose fin Finlets
Filament
Disconnected spines
Barbels
Fins modifications
Feeler or antenna
Sucker-like
Claspers
pelvic fins modified
into an “intromittent
organs”, used to
channel semen into the
female's cloaca during
copulation (e.g. sharks)
Caudal Fin Shapes
Heterocercal
or unequal
type
Leptocercal type
Caudal Fin Shapes
Homocercal (Most advanced & most common
type type)
lunate/ truncate or
crescent-shaped Forked type round shape
straight
emarginated / Double pointed not Pointed &
slightly forked emarginate separated from separated from
the dorsal & the Dorsal and
anal fin anal fins
Body Covering: Fish Scales
Cycloid Scales:
Ctenoid Scales:
Teeth of bony fishes
* Fish may or may not have teeth
depending on the species.
Fused into
Molars Incisors Canines
plates
Villi form Tooth patches on
roof of mouth
Overview of Classification and
Nomenclature
Basic Fish
Taxonomy
7 Standard Categories of Taxonomic
Classification
(arranged from highest to lowest)
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
7 Standard Categories of Taxonomic
Classification
(arranged from highest to lowest)
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
The Basic Family Tree of Vertebrates
Vertebrate – animals with
backbone
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Fishe
s Class Class
Class Class Class
Chondrichthyes Mammalia Reptilia
(Cartilaginous
Osteichthyes Agnatha (Sea turtles,
(Cetaceans,
fishes) (Bony fishes) (hagfishes) Sea snakes, etc)
etc.)
The Basic Family Tree of Invertebrates
Invertebrate – animals
without backbone
Phylum
Arthropoda Mollusca Echinodermata Cnidaria Porifera
• crustaceans • cephalopods • sea cucumber • • sponges
hydroids
- shrimps - cuttlefish • sea urchin • jellyfishes
- prawns - squid • starfish • sea wasps
- lobsters - octopus • crinoids • corals
- crabs • gastropods
• bivalves
Some basic definitions
Classification - is the sorting of different
kinds of individuals into groups, for
convenience in finding them for
study.
Nomenclature - The process of assigning
correct scientific names to organisms
in agreement with the current codes
of classification, systematics and
taxonomy
Example:
Taxonomic Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Osteichthyes
Order: Perciformes
Teardrop
Family: Nemipteridae threadfin bream
Genus: Nemipterus (“bisugo”)
Species: isacanthus
Scientific Name: Nemipterus
isacanthus
Why use scientific names?
* All fishes (and other animals and plants) are
given unique names.
* a “two-name system” (binomial) composed
of Genus and Species)
* Carl von Linné (Swedish naturalist ) developed
the current binomial naming system. He
actually got so engrossed in naming things he
even managed to re-name himself in the
process (to “Carolus Linnaeus)”.
Why use scientific names?
Example:
COMMON NAMES
– Vary from location to
location
– Various combinations of
descriptions
– No rules govern Common name
• Coral trout, Leopard coral
trout, Coral grouper,
SCIENTIFIC NAMES
Leopard trout
– Remain relatively
unchanged Local name name
– Rules apply
• Suno, lapu-lapu
Only Scientific name
one! • Plectropomus
leopardus
Rules in writing scientific
names:
first letter of genus should be capitalized
(Example: Auxis)
species name is not capitalized
(Example: thazard)
both genus & species if not italized should
be underlined.
(Example: Auxis thazard or Auxis
thazard
What are the Tools of Taxonomy?
1) Morphometrics (Parameters that can be
measured)
Standard Measurements of Bony Fish
Standard Measurements of Bony Fish
Girth : the distance around the
widest part of the fish
Length
Measurement
Total Width
Ray TW
What are the Tools of Taxonomy?
2) Meristics (Anatomical parts that can be
counted) eg. vertebrae, fin-rays, spines, teeth
and scales..
What are the Tools of Taxonomy?
3) The appearance and position of body
structures e.g. the lateral line, teeth and scales
and the coloration of the fish.
Cycloid Scales:
Ctenoid Scales:
What are the Tools of Taxonomy?
4) Chromosome numbers and genetic
parameters (such as DNA sequences - require
sophisticated measuring techniques).
Groups
of
Fishes
Pelagic Fishes: diverse group of fishes
that live at the upper layer of
the water column.
Demersal Fishes: diverse group of fishes
that live and feed on or close to
the seabed.
Pelagic Fishes:
a) Large Pelagics (about 5 common families) –
Example:
Marlin LargeTuna
b) Small Pelagics (about 15 common families) –
Example:
Galonggon Sardin
g e
Alumaha
n
Demersal Fishes:
a) Soft ground (trawlable areas) = about 41
common families - Example:
Sapsa Bisugo
p
b) Hard ground (reef areas) = about 18 common
families – Example:
Lapu- Maya-
lapu maya
Tuna & tuna-like fi shes
Taxonomy and Species
ID: Family: Scombridae
* Know the Major Characteristics (by
family): LargePelagic Group & Small Pelagic Gro
Family: (Tuna & tuna like fishes)
S
c dorsal finlets
o
m
b lateral keel bet. 2
r smaller keels
i
d anal finlets
a
e
11 Genera: Thunnus, Katsuwonus, Euthynnus, Auxis,
Scomber, Sarda, Scomberomorus, Rastrelliger,
Acanthocybium, Grammatorcynus, Gymnosarda
Taxonomy and Species
ID:
* Know the Major Characteristics (by
family): (jacks, scads, trevallies,
Family:
runners,
C pampanos,
etc)
a
r
a
n
g
i
d
a
23 Genera: Alectis, Atule, eAlepes, Atropus, Caranx,
Carangoides, Decapterus, Elagatis, Gnathanodon,
Megalaspis, Naucrates, Parastromateus, Pantolabus,
Pseudocaranx, Selar, Selaroides, Scomberoides,
Seriolina, Seriola, Trachinotus, Trachurus, Uraspis, Ulua,
REFERENCES in species
indentification
use references on fish
identification (read
descriptions & try to
compare with your
specimen)
use picture
guides
REFERENCES in species indentification
consult fishbase
(www.fishbase.o
rg)
REFERENCES in species indentification
use taxonomic keys
(usually employ
complete alternative
characters)
Taxonomic Keys FAO
Specie ID
Guide
• a device used to identify a plant or
animal by subjecting it to successive
“tests” for the presence or absence of
key identifying characters until, by
elimination, the species is identified.
• Most taxonomic keys are “dichotomous or
couplet” - each key consists of two choices at
each step.
• Necessary to do an analysis – i.e. form and
structure.
• Use both quantitative (morphometrics) and
qualitative (meristics) analyses and other
countable features.
FAO Species Identification Guide
for Fishery Purposes
(6
volumes)
Volume 1 - Seaweeds, corals, bivalves and gastropods
Volume 2 - Cephalopods, crustaceans, holothurians and sharks
Volume 3 - Batoid fishes, chimaeras and Bony fishes part 1
(Elopidae to Linophrynidae)
Volume 4 - Bony fishes part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae)
Volume 5 – Bony fishes part 3 (Menidae to Pomacentridae)
Volume 6 – Bony fishes part 4 (Labridae to Latimeriidae), estuarine
crocodiles, sea turtles, sea snakes and marine
mammals
FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery
Purposes
FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery
Purposes
Key to the species of Scombridae occurring in the
area
1a.Two small keels and no large median keel on each side of
caudal peduncle (Fig. 1a); 5 dorsal and 5 anal finlets (Fig.
1a); adipose eyelids cover front and rear of eye (Fig.
2) ..... . 2
1b. Two small keels and a large median keel between them
on each side of caudal peduncle (Fig. 1b); 6 to 10
dorsal and 6 to 10 anal finlets; adipose eyelids
absent . . . . . . . . . 6
FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery
Purposes
2a.Vertically zig-zag or wavy lines on back; first anal-fin
spine fairly stiff and strong (Fig. 3); teeth present on roof
of mouth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Scomber) > 3
2b.One or 2 horizontal rows of spots on each side of back;
first anal-fin spine thin, rudimentary (Fig. 4); no teeth on
roof of mouth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Rastrelliger)
>4
FAO Species Identification Guide for
Fishery Purposes
3a.First dorsal fin spines IX; distance from last dorsal fin
spine to origin of second dorsal fin less than distance
between first and last spine. . . . Scomber japonicus
3b.First dorsal fin spines X to XII; distance from tenth
dorsal fin spine to origin of second dorsal fin greater
than distance between first and tenth spine . . .
Scomber australasicus
FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery
Genus Purposes
Scomber
FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery
Purposes
4a. Gill rakers not visible from side of head when mouth is
open, 21 to 26 on lower limb of first gill arch; body
moderately slender, its depth at posterior margin of
opercle 4.9 to 6 times in fork length. . . . . . . . . .
Rastrelliger faughni
4b. Gill rakers visible from side of head when mouth is open,
30 to 48 on lower limb of first gill arch; body moderately
deep, its depth at posterior margin of opercle 3.7 to 5.2
times in fork length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . > 5
5a. Body depth at posterior margin of opercle 3.7 to 4.3
times in fork length. . . . . . . . . . . . Rastrelliger
brachysoma
5b. Body depth at posterior margin of opercle 4.3 to 5.2
times in fork length . . . . . . . . . . . . Rastrelliger
kanagurta
FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery
Purposes
Genus
Rastrelliger
