Lecture 7 -

Superorder – Protacanthopterygii

Esociformes – Pikes and mudminnows;

Osmeriformes – Smelts, icefish, argentines etc.;

Salmoniformes – Three major groups: Coregonid whitefishes, thymallid graylings and salmonid salmons.

3 Forms Diadromy:

1) Anadromy – spawn fresh, juvs to salt, return to fresh to spawn (Salmon, Lampreys, Sturgeon, Herring, Arridae, smelts, cods, Sculpins, gobies, soles)

2) Catadromy – Adults spawn at sea, juvs move to fresh for several years and return to sea to spawn. Anguillidae, Galaxiidae, Mullets, Centropomidae

3) Amphidromy – Spawn fresh or salt; larvae migrate to other habitat for initial feeding and growth then return for more growth before spawning. (Herring, Galaxids, southern grayling, Sculpins, pipefish etc.)

Genetically distinct stocks – unique evolutionary units

Neoteleosts: Pharyngeal Retractor Muscle - retractor dorsalis – seven super orders.

Retractor dorsalis - Connects pharyngeal jaws w/ vertebral column.

Changed way vertebral column connects to skull.

Super order groups

1) Stenopterygii = Stomiiforms and Ateleopodiidae.

2) Cyclosquamata = Aulopiformes = pelagic & bathypelagic;

3) Scopelomorpha - Myctophiformes with 2 families; 35 genera & about 241 species;

ACANTHOMORPHA = True fin spines (not hardened rays) dorsal, anal and pelvic fins

4) Lampridiomorpha = open water oceanic include opahs and oarfish

5) Polymixiomorpha = beardfishes

6 ) Paracanthopterygii – major branch; Marine, benthic and nocturnal fishes; Caudal skeleton and holes in skull. About 1200 species – only 20 primitive are freshwater

Percopsiformes - Troutperch (most advanced w/ adipose fin) etc.

Ophidiiformes - Pearlfish and cusk eels.

Gadiformes - Cods, hake etc – important commercial fishes in world – largest food fishery in world was for Pacific walleye Pollock > 6 million tons in 1989

Batrachoidiformes - Toadfish – some venomous (convergent with scorpionfish) and sound production

Lophiiformes = anglerfishes; Goosefish & frogfish (esca or lure used to mimic small fish) and batfish; males small and are parasitic on females.

7) Superorder Acanthopterygii – 13,500 species in 251 families – Three series.

a) Ascending process of premaxilla and b) Pharyngeal dentition and action great

1) Mugilomorpha – mullets – 66 species, economically important;

2) Atherinomorpha – Successful at surface of water.

a) Atheriniformes = silversides, rainbow fishes, 285 spp.;

b) Beloniformes = needlefishes, flying fishes

c) Cyprinodontiformes = Poeciliids – mollies, guppies, swordtails; Killifish, pupfish etc. – highly salt tolerant and extreme environments;

3) Percomorpha - 12,000 species with anteriorly placed pelvic girdle connected to pectoral girdle directly or by a ligament;

Basal Orders

Stephanoberyciforms (gibberfishes & whalefish)

Bericiformes - orange roughy & squirrelfishes

Zeiforms – John dories

Gasterosteiforms –sticklebacks, sea horses. Sea moths, pipefish, sea dragons, - males become pregnant, also trumpetfish & cornet fish and shrimpfish

Synbranchiforms – Swamp Eels.

Scorpaniformes – scorpionfish and rockfish; only freshwater = sculpins

Major group = Order Perciformes – 148 families and 9300 species

Suborder Percoidei (many families) – 71 families with 2860 species – Follow Lab for Families to know

Order – Pleuronectiformes – pelagic symmetric larvae, metamorphose into adults that lie on bottom, Soles, flounders, halibut, tonguefishes.

Order - Tetradontiformes – triggerfish, filefishes, boxfishes, puffers, Mola Ocean Sunfishes