Fish Anatomy & Physiology
Lateral line
A mechanoreceptor system consisting of a series of pores and receptor units (neuromasts) along the sides of the body of fishes and aquatic amphibians; detects water movements made by an animal itself and by other moving objects; gel filled pits
Cycloid scales
Bony fishes (teleosts) Overlapping grow with the fish (concentric rings) smooth outer edge (soft rayed fishes like salmon)
Ctenoid scales
Bony fishes (teleosts) overlapping grow with the fish (concentric rings) "toothed" outer edge (spiny fishes like basses)
Ganoid scales
Bowfin, paddlefish, gar, sturgeon contain bone non-overlapping armor-like plates
Placoid scales
Elasmobranchs flat basal plate under skin, point protrudes above skin related to vertebrate teeth do not "grow" to accommodate fish growth
Gill filaments
Fingerlike projections through which gases enter and leave the blood system-used for respiration, circulate blood, fleshy and red
Rays
Flexible; often branched; mainly for support
Scutes
Modified scales made from keratin seen on turtle shells, crocodiles, sturgeons
Gill arches
Multiple inside of cheek that sit on top of one another; one of the jointed and cartilaginous or bony structures behind the jaws in fish and larval amphibians
Spines
Rigid projections on fins; never segmented; defensive aid
Pyloric Caeac
food goes into sack and digestive fluid enzymes break down food
Incisor teeth
front teeth; cut
ampullary receptors
gel filled pits in skin that sense electricity concentrated on head ampullary canal filled with gelatinous matrix -n sharks and other fishes sensitive to electrical energy in environment
Molarlike teeth
grind
Maxillary teeth
line the edge of upper jaw; keeps prey in mouth
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
Canine teeth
pointed, dog-like teeth next to the incisors; puncture
Gill rakers
spiked projections along the inner surface of fishes' gills used for filter-feeding
Barbels
stick off chin used to feel around bottom can find food and investigate environment
Caudal Fin
tail fin; propels the fish
Premaxillary teeth
teeth associated with the premaxilla along the anterior margin of the upper jaw
Palatine teeth
the teeth bones on the palatine bone, making up the anterior part of the inner tooth rows
Anal Fin
ventral fin that helps keep the fish upright and moving in a straight line; below the caudal fin
Vomer teeth
down below jaw
Inferior mouth
downward positioned mouth, used for bottom feeding
Adipose Fin
The fatty fin on some species of fish, such as catfish and bullheads; behind the dorsal fin
Pelvic Fin
either of a pair of fins attached to the pelvic girdle in fishes that help control the direction of movement, further down than the pectoral
Pectoral Fin
either of a pair of fins situated just behind the head in fishes that help control the direction of movement
Sub-terminal mouth
a mouth located on the underside of the head
Dorsal Fin
an unpaired fin on the back of a fish or whale, e.g., the tall triangular fin of a shark or killer whale.
