Fish Anatomy

Operculum

A protective flap that covers the gills of fishes

Maneuvering specialists body shape (Compressiform)

Good for precise/sharp turns

Spines

Hard and pointy, simple, unbranched, boney structures

low aspect ratio of caudal fin

Large surface area, Move more water, Uses more energy, Cannot swim long- good for short bursts of speed

Vent of fish

fish's outlet for waste, extra water, eggs, or sperm

Depressiform

flattened dorsoventrally

Globiform

globe-like - porcupine, puffer fish

Cruising specialists body shape (Fusiform)

good for going fast over long distances

flat body shape (Depressiform)

good for laying on the sea bottom

Accelerating specialists body shape (sagittaform)

good for short bursts of high speed, common in ambush predators

protrusible mouth

hinged mouth, used for detaching jaw to ambush prey

Compressiform

laterally compressed

media

middle

terminal mouth

mouth located in the center of the head; midwater feeders; eat directly what is in front of them

superior mouth

mouth opens upward--these fish are ambush predators that are surface feeders,

dorsal

pertaining to the back

caudal

posterior, towards the tail

Anguilliform

resembling an eel

ganoid scales

rhombus shaped scales found in fossil fishes and ray-finned fishes

Taeniform

ribbon like fishes- gunnels

ctenoid scales

rough and spiny

lateral

side of body

finlets

small fins between tail and dorsal fin. Help to decrease/control turbulence of water riding over dorsal and anal fins. Found on fast cruisers (tuna, sailfish...)

placoid scales

small, tooth-like spines that make up a shark's skin

Caudal fin

tail fin; propels the fish

Fusiform

tapering at both ends; spindle-shaped.

cycloid scales

thin, overlapping scales with a smooth posterior edge

Filiform

thread-like

dorsal fin

unpaired median fin on the backs of fishes and some other aquatic vertebrates that help to maintain balance

Adipose fin

The fatty fin on some species of fish, such as catfish and bullheads.

inferior mouth

downward positioned mouth, used for bottom feeding

Pelvic fin

each of a pair of fins on the underside of a fish's body, attached to the pelvic girdle and helping to control direction.

Pectoral fin

either of a pair of fins situated just behind the head in fishes that help control the direction of movement

high aspect ratio of caudal fin

Small surface area, Move less water-,Go faster for longer periods of time, efficient for high speed cruisers

lateral line

a faint line visible on both sides of a fish's body that runs the length of the body and marks the location of sense organs that detect vibrations in water

subterminal mouth

a mouth that is oriented and opening primarily forward but also ventrally so that the upper jaw extends beyond lower jaw cleft

Homocercal Caudal fin

a tail-fin arrangement in which the upper and lower lobe are the same in shape and size

Heterocercal Caudal Fin

a tail-fin arrangement in which the upper lobe is larger than the lower lobe. Characteristic of sharks/sturgeons. Produces lift in addition to thrust

Anal fin

an unpaired fin located on the underside of a fish posterior to the vent

cranial

anterior, toward the head

Saggitaform

arrow-like

ventral

belly side

Rays (of fins)

compound, segmented, and branched soft boney structures