VT Ichthyology Class 2009

Scientist learn where Threatened Basking Sharks spend winters

2009-05-08T16:26:00.002-04:00

There are a great many mysteries about fishes that we do not know. Some are slowly being discovered by scientists who doggedly pursue these questions. Often the use of novel technologies, such as satellite tagging, make learning the answers possible.

One hypothesis regarding the wintering grounds of the world's second largest fish, the basking shark was only recently tested and confirmed. The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is a huge filter feeder which grows to be up to 32 feet (9.8 m) long. According to a recent study published in Current Biology, the basking shark migrate at depths of 200 to 1000 meters deep and overwinter in the western Tropical Atlantic. Read about this story, click here.

Florida Fish Quiz

2009-05-08T12:37:00.002-04:00

Name this fish!

-- continuous black lateral line

--- 67 to 72 pored scales on lateral line to base of caudal fin

Mystery Fish

2009-05-08T12:09:00.008-04:00

What family? Hint: Mostly freshwater; Only found in tropical and sub-tropical habitats; mouth-brooding common.

- --- a single opening of the nostrils

- --- an interrupted lateral line.

Unknown Jar ID-Elizabeth Bedell

2009-05-07T14:07:00.008-04:00

Crescent Shiner (Luxilus cerasinus)
-crescents on side of body
-red tipped dorsal, tail and anal fins

Red-breasted sunfish (Lepomis auritus)

-gill cover long with black tip

-anal fin has spines

-short pectoral fin

American eel (Anguilla rostrata)

- has teeth

- no pelvic fins

Mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdi)

-2 lobed connected dorsal fins

- dark brown mottling on side

Riverweed darter (Etheostoma podostemone)

-large pectoral fins

-eyes almost of top of head

-dark spots forming XY pattern

2009-05-04T23:59:00.002-04:00

Pimelodidae (long-whiskered catfish)
- Freshwater Adapted
- Commercial Fishery
- Game/Sport Fish
- Dry/Wet Season Environments
- Nonguarders

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Pimelodidae

300 species
3 pairs of barbels
Freshwater Family
Naked - No scales or armor

Unique Species
"Firewood" Catfish (used for firewood)
Highwaterman Catfish (has gill rakers and occupies pelagic zone)
Pictus Catfish (common aquarium catfish)
Kuma Kuma (occassionally eats monkeys)

Fish in jar 5

2009-05-04T23:57:00.003-04:00

Cyprinidae; Notropis; telescopus

Telescope Shiner
-Very small in size
-Indistinct black stripe down side up through nose of preserved specimen
-Huge eye in proportion to face
-Forked tail

Molidae Quiz

2009-05-04T23:56:00.002-04:00

1. How many different species of Ocean sunfish are there?
A.1
B.4
C.3
D.7

2.The Mola Mola is a bony fish, thus the skeleton is mostly bone
-true
-false

3.The ocean sunfish can be characterized as a/an
A. Nongaurder
B. World Record Holder
C. Omnivore
D. All of the above

4.What is the largest Mola Mola on record?
A.2900 lb
B.3100 lb
C. 6945 lb
D. 5100 lb

Fish in jar 4

2009-05-04T23:52:00.004-04:00

-Distinct U-shaped markings along side
-Darter like nose and body style
-2 dorsals, separated
- slightly forked tail
-Stripe down through eye
-eyes high on head.

Unknown Fish Identification

2009-05-04T23:50:00.002-04:00

Characteristics:
-supraterminal mouth
-ctenoid scales
-large dorsal and anal fin
-large eye with vertical black bar through it

Unknown Fish Identification

2009-05-04T23:48:00.003-04:00

Characteristics:
-lacks bony plates on posterior lower side
-short snout
-heterocercal tail

-

Fish in a Jar 3

2009-05-04T23:44:00.003-04:00

Centrarchidae; Centrarchus; macrotropus

Flier
Band through Eye
Spade like shape of fins going back
Spot on Operculum
small indistinct spot on back bottom of dorsal
Shape of head, steeply sloped and then down into mouth, not round like a sunfish

Unknown Fish Identification

2009-05-04T23:41:00.003-04:00

Characteristics:
-large eye
-mouth angled upward
-tongue has teeth
-anal fin is longer than dorsal fin
-small pelvic
-usually dark spot on shoulder in line with eye

Fish in a jar 2

2009-05-04T23:37:00.004-04:00

Cottidae; Cottus; carolinae

Banded sculpin
-less contrast between bandings and body
-more distinctly shaped bandings
-Chin marks difficult to see, so this characteristic was not used.

Unknown Fish Identification

2009-05-04T23:34:00.001-04:00

Characteristics:
-well developed adipose fin
-lateral row of dark spots
-single dorsal fin
-translucent skin

Unknown Fish Identification

2009-05-04T23:29:00.002-04:00

Characteristics:
-large scaled
-subterminal sucker mouth
-adult dorsal well rounded
-black stripe on side of young, as well as reddish dorsal and tail fins
-gold, green, brassy iridescence along top of body

Unknown Fish Identification

2009-05-04T23:26:00.002-04:00

Characteristics:
-stocky, deep, compressed body
-long based dorsal fin
-variable body colors
-blunt nose, terminal mouth

Unknown Fish Identification

2009-05-04T23:23:00.001-04:00

Characteristics:
-small catfish
-gray-black blotches on body
-pale yellow fins
-yellow spot behind dorsal fin
-straight pectoral spine
-inferior mouth, barbels around mouth are white

Fish from a jar

2009-05-04T23:20:00.006-04:00

Catostomidae; Hypentilium;nigricians

Northern Hog Sucker

-Concavity in head
-Eyes high up
-Lips shaped like those in picture
-Banding/splotchy pattern in black on body

Unknown Fish Identification

2009-05-04T23:19:00.002-04:00

Characteristics:
-small, superior mouth
-large eye
-teeth present
-no spines on fins
-rounded caudal fin
-dark, narrow bars vertical on body
-blackened cheeks
-plate like scales on head

Unknown Fish Identification

2009-05-04T23:16:00.002-04:00

Characteristics:
-drab, dark, stout bodied fish
-anus located behind the head in jugular position
-rounded snout/single dorsal fin
-slightly indented caudal fin

Sinking Creek Fish Group: Ross, Elizabeth, Jackie, Caitlin, Maybe others?

2009-05-04T22:50:00.004-04:00

Rosyside dace (Clinostomus funduloides)
-upturned mouth
-"rosy" coloration on body
-forked tail
-lateral line unconnected

Stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum)
-mismatched scales
-horseshoe shaped mouth with hard ridge on bottom lip

Blacknose dace (Rhinichthys atratulus)
-black lateral line extending to snout
-small eye
-small barbels at corners of mouth

2009-05-04T22:43:00.006-04:00

Banded Sunfish (Enneacanthus gloriosus)

-opercular dark spot

-about 4 lateral bars

-round pectoral fin

-2nd dorsal and anal fins enlarged

Banded Sculpin (Cottus carolinae)

-
-lacks orange tip on dorsal fin

-bands are more defined on lower half of body

-chin is decorated with arranged spots

Stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum)

-horseshoe shaped mouth with hard ridge

-looks as if some scales are missing

-lip corners extended posteriorly

Torrent Sucker (Thoburnia rhotheoca)
-

-short caudal peduncle

-inferior mouth w/ 2 triangular lower lips

-light caudal patches

-blotched color

Greenside Darter (Etheostoma blenniodes)

-blunt rounded snout

-long and slender

-small subterminal mouth

-'U' shaped coloration pattern

Caitlin's Unknown Fish IDs

2009-05-04T21:12:00.006-04:00

White Crappie—Pomoxis annularis
Key Characteristics
Coloration is light
Slightly upturned mouth
Dorsal fin smaller than length from mouth to dorsal fin
Dorsal fin 5-6 spines

Spotfin Shiner-- Cyprinella spiloptera
Key Characteristics:
Dorsal fin ends where pelvic fin begins
Rounded snout
White belly
Dorsal fin margin straight

Redline Darter—Etheostoma rufilineatum
Key Characteristics
White band pattern on edge of fins
Lines go down the side

Mottled Sculpin- Cottus bairdi

Key Characteristics

Large head

Eyes high on head

Unmottled chin

Large pectoral fin

Torrent Sucker-- Thoburnia rhothoeca
Key Characteristics- Coloration Short head Inferior mouth Dorsal fin edge straight

Unknown Jar Fish-Christian Maurer

2009-05-04T21:02:00.007-04:00

1. Hybognathus Regius (eastern silvery minnow)
-dorsal fin origin above pelvic fin origin
-midlateral stripe noticably widens posteriorly
-stout body that is deepest and widest in front of dorsal fin
-no barbels (rules out hybopsis)

2. Etheostoma Rufilineatum (Redline darter)
-side of head with 3 horizontal markings
-deep caudal peduncle
-caudal fin distally dark, with a wide pale area around it
-characteristic lateral parallel markings (matrix like)
-frenum is present

3. Bluegill (Lepomis Macrochirus)
-small mouth
-pointed pectoral fins
-black spot on posterior end of dorsal fin
-dark opercular flap not extended nor light margined

4. Mottled Sculpin (C. Bairdi)
-unmottled appearance on chin
-incomplete banding
-dorsal fins are slightly connected

5. Ohio Lamprey (Ichthyomyzon bdellium)
-one continuous dorsal fin
-small teeth
-slight notch in dorsal fin

Unknown ID

2009-05-04T20:17:00.003-04:00

Spotfin Shiner (Notropis spilopterus) White marks on fins Rounded dorsal fin

Greenside darter (Ethiostoma blenniodes)-Obvious U shaped patterns on side

Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) Pectoral fin fold forward and extends past eye

Yellow Bullhead (Ameiurus natalis) White barbels below the mouth Anal fin with 24-27 fin rays

Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdi) Unmottled chin Dorsal fins slighly connected

Unknown Fish Identification by Jon Marchand

2009-05-04T19:56:00.011-04:00

1) Redear Sunfish

Lepomis microlophus

-emarginate caudal fin

-pointed, long pectoral fin

-dorsal and anals lacking spots

-cheek lacking lines

2)Marginated Madtom

Noturus insignis

-body not scaled

-barbels present

-adipose fin adnate

3)Banded Sculpin

Cottus carilinae

-body not scaled

-pelvic fins with 3-4 rays

-2 distinct looking dorsal fins

-bands distinctly darker than body color

4)Bigeye Chub

Hybopsis amblops

-barbel present at posterior end of lips and terminal

-Dorsal fin mambranes unpigmented

-moderate(streamline) adult form

5)Dusky Darter

Percina sciera

-pointed snout

-caudal fin base with three dark spots

Unknown ID Sean S

2009-05-04T19:29:00.004-04:00

Mountain Madtom - Noturus eleutherus
ID:
Catfish look
Brown with dark saddles

Flier - Centrarchus macropterus
ID:
Eye bar
Large anal fin

Banded Sculpin - Cottus carolinae
ID:
Mottled chin
Seperate dorsal fins

Greenside Darter - Etheostoma blenniodides
ID:
Can be large
U-Shapes on side

Southern Redbelly Dace - Phoxinus erythrogaster
ID:
Stripe down side

Unknown Fish Identification

2009-05-04T19:22:00.005-04:00

Rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris) - rows of dark spots on sides, large eye that turns blueish after preservation,black margined anal fin

Telescope shiner (Notropis telescopus) - Large eye, stitched line along side, lack of dark blotch under chin (see first above) that would distinguish it from a popeye shiner

Torrent Sucker (Thoburnia rothoeca) - distinct coloration difference between ventral and dorsal portions, two small pale circles on the end of the caudal peduncle

Stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum) - Horseshoe shaped mouth

Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdi) - Bands down the side that are not complete ventrally, lack of mottled pigmentation under chin

Greenside darter (Ethiostoma blenniodes) - "U" shaped blotches along the sides, blunt nose

Class Field Trip at Sinking Creek

2009-05-04T17:13:00.001-04:00

Having fun with fish on a sunny day!

2009-05-04T16:40:00.005-04:00

Greenside Darter
U-shaped bands

Spotfin Shiner
-dorsal fin marginally straight
-sub-terminal mouth
-pointed snout

Green Sunfish
-large mouth
-black spot on dorsal fin and light black spot on anal fin

Banded Sculpen
-mottled chin
-Large terminal mouth
-eyes high on head

Northern Hogsucker
-concave head
-distinctive mouth/lips
-eyes high on head

Unknown Fish ID

2009-05-04T16:32:00.005-04:00

American Eel, Anguilla rostrata
- elongated, round
- dorsal and anal fins long and connected to tail fin
- lacks a pelvic fin

Logperch, Percina caprodes
- Elongate body
- Long, cone-shaped snout
- Snout tip bulbous or blunt
- Two dorsal fins
- Dark vertical bars on side, like tiger stripes

Golden Shiner, Notemigonus crysoleucas

- Deep, compressed body

- Forked tail fin
- Upturned mouth; pointed or somewhat rounded snout
- Silver or brassy sheen on body

Flier, Centrarchus macropterus

- Very compressed body
- Supraterminal mouth
- Large dorsal and anal fin
- Long, pointed pectoral fin
- Slightly notched tail fin
- Many spines on anal fin
- Large eye with a vertical black bar through it
- Black spot below the eye

Mottled Sculpin, Cottus bairdi

Large broad head, large terminal mouth
Eye high on head
Short snout
Anteriorly rounded body, compressed posteriorly
First dorsal fin has a short base, second has a long base
Large, fan-like pectoral fin
Unmottled chin
Dorsal fins slightly connected

Unidentified Fish

2009-05-04T15:40:00.001-04:00

Help identify this fish, sorry for the fuzzy picture.

Carangidae Quiz/Review

2009-05-04T15:29:00.002-04:00

Identifiction:
-widely forked caudal tail
-narrow caudal peduncle
-two detached spines

Family Details:
-33 genera, 140 species
-found in Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans

Economic Value:
-sport fishing
-high economic value (pompano)

Carcharinidae Quiz

2009-05-04T11:27:00.005-04:00

Slide 10Carcharinidae Quiz

Which characteristic is exclusive to requiem sharks?
1. 5 gill slits
2. Sharp teeth
3. Nictitating eyelids
4. Heterocercal tail
Answer: 3

What type of reproductive strategy do the requiem sharks use?
1. Pelagic egg dispersal
2. Livebearing
3. Nest guarding
4. Brood hiding
Answer: 2

True or False: The shark pictured here is a member of the family Carcharinidae

Answer: False (It's a spiny dogfish...family Squalidae)

Requeim sharks' favorite food is...
1. Squid
2. Crustaceans
3. License Plates
4. Cookies
Answer: 1&2

Unkown Fish ID

2009-05-04T11:22:00.008-04:00

Banded Sculpin (Cottus carolinae)
-distinct bands on side
-disconnected dorsal fin
-mottling on chin

Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
-deep body
-small mouth
-vertical lines down body

Redline Darter (Etheostoma rufilineatum)
-eyes on top of head
-barred pattern down side
-slightly rounded caudal

Spotfin Shiner (Cyprinella spiloptera)
-diamond shaped scales
-spot on base of caudal
-upturned mouth

Northern Hogsucker (Hypentelium nigricans)
-saddles down side
-scales same size
-indent on top of head

Pomatomidae Quiz

2009-05-04T11:13:00.003-04:00

How many species of Bluefish are there?
A: one Pomatomus saltatrix

What is there range?
A: Subtropical marine waters from Australia to the Eastern Coast of the US and South America excluding the Eastern Pacific

What habitat do they prefer?
A: Smaller fish surf and estuaries, Larger fish oceanic waters

What type of spawners are they?
A: pelagic nonguarders

Jar Fish IDs

2009-05-04T10:56:00.008-04:00

Tyler Young

Golden Shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas)
-upturned mouth
-compressed body with high back
-forked caudal fin

Gilt Darter (Percina evides)
-vertical bar over eye
-blotches with faint bars on side
-large pectoral fins

Black Crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)
-upturned nose and mouth
-length of dorsal fin base is equal to length from

of first dorsal spin to eye
-speckled body

Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdi)
-lightly colored speckled shin
-large head with eyes high on head
-rounded tail fin

White Sucker (Catostomus commersoni)
-larger scales anterior to posterior
-bumpy lips
-round body

Craigs Creek fish

2009-05-04T10:55:00.011-04:00

Mountain Redbelly Dace (Phoxinus oreas)
-broken lateral line
-black splotches on top of back
-red breeding colors

Central Stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum)
-mismatched scales
-horseshoe shaped mouth

Bluehead Chub (Nocomis leptocephalus)
-reddish fins
-red eye
-pointed snout

Rosyside Dace (Clinostomus funduloides)
-large mouth
-rosy side
-large eye

Blacknose Dace (Rhinichthys atratulus)
-small scales
-black lateral line extending all the way to tip of nose

Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdi)
-connected dorsal fin
-no mottling on chin
-no distinct bands

White Sucker (Catostomus commersoni)
-scales different size
-thick inferior mouth
-

Unknown Fish I.D.

2009-05-04T10:54:00.013-04:00

Cottus bairdi "Mottled Sculpin": seperated dorsal fins, not specifically divided bars on sides, chin spotted like 5 o'clock shadow but not mottled as in carolinae

Percina caprodes "Logperch": large slender darter, tiger stripe pattern on a logperch body

Notoris insignis "Margined Madtom": black margins at edges of caudal, dorsal, and anal; madtom build (small, skinny, adipose runs into caudal fin)

Enneacanthus obesus "Banded Sunfish": rounded pectoral fin with 11 fin rays, black tear drop, enlarged 2nd dorsal and anal, dark opercale spot, 4-6 lateral bars

Luxilis cerasinus "Crescent Shiner":many crescents on side, large shiner with football shaped scales, pointed nose unlike common or white

Sinking Creek Fish

2009-05-04T10:34:00.012-04:00

Group: Tyler Y, David B, Pat K , Ross A, Travis J

Northern Hog Sucker (Hypentelium nigricans)-concave between eyes
-dark saddles on back
-larger than Roanoke hog sucker

Rock Bass (Ambloplites rupestris)
-compressed body
-red eye
-dark edge on anal fin

Telescope Shiner (Notropis telescopus)
-large eye
-dark stripe on side
-large terminal mouth

Stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum)
-stocky body
-hard ridge on lower jaw
-inferior mouth

Rosyside Dace (Clinostomus funduloides)
-large upturned mouth
-dark line on side
-red/pink color on side

Crescent Shiner (Luxilus cerasinus)
-several dark crescents on side of body
-terminal mouth
-rounded snout

Rosefin Shiner (Lythrurus ardens)
-large terminal mouth
-dark spot on anterior base of dorsal
-rosy patterns on tips of fins

Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdi)
-large broad head
-light colored chin
-orange band on first dorsal fin

Blacknose Dace (Rhinichthys atratulus)
-snout overhangs mouth
-dark stripe down side
-speckled back

Unkown Fish I.D.

2009-05-04T09:03:00.004-04:00

These are the five fish that were in my jar.

White sucker
Catostomus commersoni
downward turned mouth with bumps on lips
scales get smaller as you go anterior

Redline darter
Etheostoma rufilineatum
checkered pattern on sides
white tip at base of caudal fin

Mottled sculpin
Cottus bairdi
unmottled chin
dorsal fins slightly connected

Flier
Centrarchus machropterus
black band through eye
Compressed body(more than most other sunfishes)
large fins
black operculum spot

Blacknose dace
Rhinichthys atratulus
black line goes all the way around snout
long snout that overhangs mouth

Craig Creek Fish

2009-05-04T08:38:00.009-04:00

Group: Travis, Ryan, Don, Justin, Sean, Tyler, Ross, and Pat

Mountain redbelly dace
Phoxinus oreas
blotched pattern on dorsal side of back
disconnected lateral line

Rosyside dace
Clinostomus funduloides
large terminal mouth
reddish behind gills

White sucker
Catostomus commersoni
large to small scales as going anterior
downward turned mouth with bumps on it

Rosyface shiner
Notropis rubellus
large eye
stitched lateral line
silvery operculum

Blacknose dace
Rhinichthys atratulus
black band going all the way around snout

Mottled sculpin
Cottus bairdi
unmottled chin
d.f. slightly connected

Fantail darter
Etheostoma flabellare
Fan-like tail

Central stoneroller
Campostoma anomalum
horseshoe mouth that is subterminal
tubercles during breeding

Unknown Fish Identification

2009-05-03T21:18:00.013-04:00

Blacknose dace (Rhinichthys atratulus)
-noticeable dark lateral bar extends to mouth
-small mouth/eye
-small barbels present at corners of mouth

Yellow Bullhead (Ameiurus natalis)

-yellow barbels
-rounded caudal fin

Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus)

-big mouth
-black spots on dorsal and anal fins
-more elongate than other Lepomis

Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdi)

-two dorsal fins slightly connected
-mottled pattern on sides
-noticeably clear underside (mouth clean)

Gilt darter (Percina evides)

-dark bands down sides
-slightly stubby nose
-dark eyebar in preserved specimen

Sinking Creek Fish

2009-04-30T18:27:00.011-04:00

Group: Jon, Jessica, Caitlin, Christian, Vicki, Claire

Telescope Shiner
Notropis telescopes
· Dark stitched lateral line
· Big eye
· Large belly

Rosefin Shiner
Lythrurus ardens
· dark triangular spot at dorsal fin origin

Crescent Shiner
Luxilus cerasinus
· Dark crescents
· Tall scales

Longnose Dace
Rhinichthys cartaractae
· Snout extends far in front of mouth
· Deep caudal peduncle

Mottled Sculpin
Cottus bairdi
· Color only a little lighter than bands
· Orange marking on dorsum

Stoneroller
Campostoma anomalum
· Large tubercles on head
· Horseshoe shaped mouth

Rosyside Dace
Clinostomus funduloides
· Mismatched scales
· Red markings

Blacknose dace
Rhinichthys atratulus
· Black stripe continues to snout

Fantail darter
Etheostoma flabellare
· Caudal fin “fan” shaped

Craig Creek Fish

2009-04-30T18:08:00.008-04:00

Group: Jon, Caitlin, Vicki, Blaine, Jessica

Mountain Redbelly Dace
Phoxinus oreas
Found 10 specimens
· Disaligned midlateral stripe
· Blotches

Mottled Sculpin
Cottus bairdi
Found 4 specimens

Color nearly as dark as bands

Rosyside Dace
Clinostomus funduloides
· Mismatched scales
· Horseshoe shaped mouth

Bluehead Chub
Nocomis leptocephalus
· Red eyes

White Sucker
Catastomus commersoni
· Scales smaller anteriorly
· Thick lips

Stoneroller
Campostoma anomalum

· Horseshoe shaped mouth

Please identify these two fish for me!

2009-04-30T16:42:00.002-04:00

I need to know these for my Ichthyology lab practical!!
Genus?
Species?

Never give a sucker a ....

2009-04-30T12:44:00.004-04:00

These two fish look similar; however, the photographers tell me they are different species.
First, to what genus do they belong? Why?

If you had the fish in your hand, what characteristics would you look at?

Would it help if I told you that:
The lips of the top specimen are plicate. The lower lip of the bottom specimen issubplicate.
Lips of the top specimen are larger that lips of lower specimen.
If you dissected out the pharyngeal teeth, you would see molariform teeth on top specimen and comblike teeth on bottom specimen.

Unknown fish to Identify

2009-04-29T13:19:00.002-04:00

Post your Fish Collected and Identified on Field Trips HERE

2009-04-29T09:58:00.000-04:00

To prepare for the lab practical, each group should post results of field trips. Let's share those identifications here. Click comment below and post your list of species, key diagnostic characteristics you used, and photos. List members of your group so appropriate credit is recorded.

Unknown Species Identification

2009-04-28T13:25:00.002-04:00

Key Characteristics
-short head, terminal mouth, short barbels around mouth
-small eyes
-broad tail
-dark line on side
-gold-brown coloration
-short pectoral spine

Unknown Species Identification

2009-04-28T13:23:00.002-04:00

Key Characteristics
-forked tail fin
-terminal mouth
-rounded snout
-fins=pale olive
-spawning males have orange belly/lower side

Unknown Species Identification

2009-04-28T13:15:00.003-04:00

Key Characteristics
-rather "chunky"
-orange paired fins
-orange-brown stripe along the midside
-large lips that protrude before the snout tip

Unknown Species Identification

2009-04-28T13:03:00.002-04:00

Key Characteristics:
-large terminal mouth
-eye is high on head
-dorsal fins slightly connected
-distinct blotches along lower body
-found in Potomac and Shenandoah river systems
-if you touched this species it would feel rather ______y.

Unknown Species Identification

2009-04-28T12:50:00.001-04:00

Key Characteristics
-deep, compressed body
-dorsal fin origin front half of pelvic fin base
-terminal mouth
-few crescents/scale alterations on side
-dorsal, tail, pelvic, and anal fins have red band with clear outer margin

New darter species described!

2009-04-27T16:21:00.003-04:00

Just when you thought you were learning many of the darters, a new one is discovered.

The new species name is Etheostoma akatulo and the species occurs in only four tributaries in Caney Fork River (upper Cumberland River drainage). It is a Federally recognized endangered species.

The scientific paper that describes the new species appeared in Copeia . Click on this link to see color photos of the new species as well as to review the content of a technical article that fully describes a new species to the scientific community.

The common name is the Bluemask darter and the species name, akatulo is from the Cherokee noun meaning mask. The bluemask refers to the intense blue pigment covering the lower face of breeding males.

What species is he holding?

2009-04-26T08:56:00.002-04:00

This fish was caught in Virginia.

Fishes of Appalachian Streams

2009-04-24T09:41:00.006-04:00

Fish A
Fish B
Fish C
Fish D
Fish E

Richard T. Kraus, Ph.D, teaches Ichthyology at George Mason University. His students take field trips to test their fish identification skills.
Here are a few specimens for their sampling.

What species are they?

Another minnow to know

2009-04-23T12:48:00.008-04:00

This fish was not collected on our Craig Creek field trip. It is a minnow that reaches ~3inches as an adult. I include multiple photos and illustrations here as we learned yesterday that there is wide variation in color among specimens of the same species in the wild.

Concentrate on learning the diagnostic characteristics (some of which cannot be seen from this side view). For this specimen you should be drawn to its tiny scales, long snout with frenum, inferior mouth, fleshy lips and small terminal barbel at corner of mouth. Bring your hand lens for the next field trip.

What species is this?

2009-04-21T10:59:00.004-04:00

These three fishes live in Virginia streams.
What genus do they belong to?

What species are these?

I live in Craig Creek, Who am I?

2009-04-21T09:42:00.002-04:00

This is the largest native minnow in Virginia. If you look closely at the mouth with a hand lens, the fish lacks a frenum and has a small barbel that is at the posterior edge of the lips. The scales have dark margins. Lateral line scales are typically 44-47 - fewer and larger than its closest relative. In juveniles there is a midlateral dark stripe - look for that.

What is this species?

Who is the closest relative? How do you tell them apart in the field?

2009-04-20T11:56:00.002-04:00

Be ready to encounter any species of fish on our field trip.

If we capture a specimen of sunfish that looks like this one, you should instantly recognize the species.

What is it?

What are the key distinguishing characteristics?

This species has a large mouth and will be captured by anglers. the maximum size is small. but this photo shows a 1 pound, 14 ounce specimen.

What Fish is This??

2009-04-15T13:51:00.004-04:00

Take a look at this photo. You should know the order by sight.
What is the order?

You likely know the genus and species as well.

What is it.

Hidden characteristics: If you look in the mouth you will see teeth are absent on the medial portion of tongue.

extra credit for first correct species identification!

Recognition for Walleye Management in Virginia

2009-04-08T11:13:00.003-04:00

The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has received a National Award in recognition of their efforts to improve the management of walleye fisheries in Virginia. The press release contains more details.

Research has demonstrated the persistence of a unique strain of walleye in the upper New River. The Department has continued a hatchery-based restoration of the native stock. Candidate spawners were collected from spawning areas, and DNA from fin clips was assessed genetically. Walleye exhibiting genetic variants that characterize the presumptive native stock were spawned and young were reared at Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries hatcheries.

Decline in Florida's Reef Fishes

2009-04-01T13:49:00.004-04:00

Trophy fish caught on Key West charter boats (1958). Photo courtesy of Monroe County Library.

Since the 1950's, the estimated weight of sport fish caught in Florida Keys declined 88% according to a paper by Loren McClenachan to be published in Conservation Biology.

Photos from the 1950 were used to estimate sizes of trophy fish.

Click here for more of the story..

Reproduction - Fascinating Fishes

2009-04-01T08:43:00.003-04:00

After reading Chapter 9 and reviewing in-class notes, you should be able to answer this question for your assigned 'fascinating fish'.

This essay question should be answered here by April 8. This question tests your ability to apply the various concepts to a novel species or groups of species.

Describe the following reproductive traits and strategies for your fascinating fish and explain how these strategies are adaptive for the environment in which these fish live.

Breeding Opportunities
Mating System
Gender System
Secondary Sex characteristics
Spawning Site Prep
Place of Fertilization
Parental Care
Reproductive Guild
Timing of Breeding

Click on comment below and post your answer in essay form (600 words max). Do not cut and past text from a web site!

The illustrations on this post show an intriguing behavior of some planktivorous cichlid species, referred to as "lekking" after the Swedish word that means "to play" Some leks are done without the 'volcano-shaped sand dome' depicted here. For more on Cichlidae, click here.

Reproductive Assistance for Imperiled Native Fishes

2009-03-30T16:13:00.003-04:00

To perpetuate the species ----

Reproduction is a critically important and very complex topic with regards to the study of fishes. Fishes have such a diversity of strategies for sexual reproduction - just as diverse as the many aquatic environments that they inhabit.

Think about attempting to summarize the reproductive strategies for the 28,000 living and described species of fishes -- an overwhelming task. This is why the formulation of an ecological and ethological classification system for reproductive strategies was developed by Eugene Balon (summarized in Chapter 9). This classification reduces the diversity of fishes to 32 different guilds and is attractive to students of Ichthyology.

In our region of the US, many agencies are attempting to restore habitats and populations of rare fish species. One non-profit organization, Conservation Fisheries, has taken the reproductive process into the lab and invented systems to breed rare fishes in captivity for eventual release to former habitats.

Take a look at their newsletter to see the progress they have made with many obscure fish species. For many rare species the only way to study their biology will be to raise them in captivity.

Photo of the Laurel dace (Phoxinus saylori) described by Christopher Skelton in 2001.

Freshwater Fishes

2009-03-25T17:17:00.003-04:00

Next week we will begin introducing you to the 26 families of Freshwater Fishes that you need to know. Some you already learned in our lessons on Marine Fishes. However, our expectations will be a little different as we concentrate on regional fishes.

You will identify many fishes to species. You will be given a jar of unknown fishes to correctly identify by use of dichotomous keys and other descriptions. By the end of April you will collect fishes from two local streams and should be able to identify the fishes in the field by sight.

So continue to sketch and photograph fish body forms and identifying characteristics. Photograph specimens and zoom in on the unique identifying characteristics. A picture is worth a thousand words and there is no substitute for discovering and describing these for yourself. Quiz each other on new specimens. The more unknown specimens you examine, the more your confidence will grow.

Only 7 lab periods until our field trips -- will you be ready?

What is this fish? Class? Order? Family? Genus? Species?

Don't confuse these elongate fishes!!

2009-03-24T12:22:00.008-04:00

These three families are often mistaken by Ichthyology students on Lab practical exams.

In the photo on the top the fish the long dorsal and anal fins run confluent with the caudal fin.

In the second photo the fish has a larger pectoral fin. The families are closely related; however the fish tend to be larger and attain lengths of 150 cm.

The fish in the bottom photo have a very long and well spined dorsal fin that runs the entire length of the body and if they have pelvic fins they are very small. The dorsal fin is twice as long as the anal fin.

In what families do these fish belong?

What Order of Fishes is this?

2009-03-24T12:00:00.004-04:00

Here's a fish to consider. This species if found in coral reefs and seagrass beds of the Indian and western Pacific oceans.

Does it look like any fish that you have seen?

First think about what is remarkable about this fish. Well, consider their strange body shape and swimming habit: the body is encased in an armor of thin, transparent plates; they swim in synchronized groups, each fish in a vertical position with the snout pointing downwards.

What order of fishes have a similar elongated body as well as NO pelvic fins?

Photo by J. E. Randall

Fishing our tidal rivers in springtime

2009-03-16T11:25:00.000-04:00

Fishing anytime from mid-March through May and you are likely to encounter these fish (pictured on bottom), which are anadromous. Averaging around 1 lb., with fish up to 2 lbs. Fish with light spin casting, using very small, brightly colored shad darts, spoons, jigs, or minnow imitation lures. Silver-sided with grayish-green back and a prominent dark spot, followed by a row of lighter spots (especially when fresh - not too evident in photo), on the upper part of the side just behind the gill cover; body long but compressed, asymmetrical top to bottom and in cross section it is wedge-shaped; the lower jaw protrudes significantly beyond the upper jaw when the mouth is closed. you can see this on the illustration. Each scale on the sides has a small dark spot.

If you are lucky you may even catch its larger cousin - in the same genus. What would that be?

DRACULA FISH

2009-03-15T23:40:00.000-04:00

Danionella Dracula

London's Natural museum of History found new species at the bottom of their very own tank. Check it out.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/03/090311-dracula-fish-photo.html

Giant stingray captured

2009-03-14T14:10:00.000-04:00

This giant stingray was captured recently as part of a National Geographic expedition in Thailand. The expedition is part of the megafish project directed by Zeb Hogan, University of Nevada, Reno.

Read more about this giant fish

and watch the video that accompanied the original story that shows the baby stingray along with the big mother.

This is a freshwater stingray and certainly is among the largest freshwater fishes in the world.

Photos of arowana

2009-03-12T14:16:00.001-04:00

There are many photos of the Asian Arowana aka Dragon fish available to browse. You will see why this is such a popular aquarium fish. There are some breeders that provide fish. However, the arowana tends to be overexploited for profit in many areas of the world. The IUCN Red list classifies the Asian Arowana as "Endangered"

Tree of Fish Life

2009-03-12T11:27:00.001-04:00

After spring break we will continue to describe a few groups of bony fishes, the Teleostei. These fish are definded by the homocercal tail and the specialized bones that support the symmetrical caudal fin. Hence the name Telesotei which literally means "end bone" The groups that I will use to introduce the Teleostei include the Osteoglossomorpha, Elopomorpha, Clupeomorpha, which are specialized offshoots of the main Teleostei line of evolution. The group in the main line of Teleostei evolution ( i.e, Euteleostei) that I will discuss is the Ostariophysi, a large group of fishes which include the Gonorynchiformes, Cypriniformes, Characiformes, Siluriformes, and Gymnotiformes.

The photo above is the Piraucu (or Arapaima), a member of the Osteoglossidae (bony tongues) that is sometimes referred to as the "Tarpon of the Amazon." Click on Osteoglossomorpha above to take you to a section of the Tree of Life that deals with this fish group. Here you can read more about this group and click on the phylogenetic tree to move up or down and see the interrelationships among the fish groups. I will not present this level of detail for other fish groups because I know you can read those chapters (15 through 26) and investigate further as your prepare your presentations on Fascinating Fishes.

We will then move on to some fundamental questions that people have about fish: What do fish eat? How do fish grow? How do fish breed? How do fish smell? How do fish taste? How do fish see? How do fish hear? How do fish behave in response to environmental change? How do fish communicate?

Caribbean Reef Fish Identification

2009-03-05T10:03:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Bhae-Jin Peemoeller for reviewing many of the families of fishes you might encounter in the Caribbean Reef environments. If you had trouble remembering family names, then you need to review your notecards and photograph files.

Question for today: What is the order and family and common name for the fish in the photo? If you know, click comment below.

There is a free online Reef Fish identification guid e. Don Stark, a certified scuba instructor with experience in the Caribbean demonstrates how to identify tropical fish from the Caribbean reef. Learn about identifying markings on fish such as the Peacock Flounder, Rock Beauty and Blue Angelfish. Get tips on identifying Trunkfish, Sand Divers and Chub Fish.

If you don't mind the few commercials, there are wonderful color videos and narrated descriptions of 20 common reef fishes. As you watch the videos you can use your knowledge of fish classification to identify the correct orders and families.

The image gallery and biological profiles sections of Ichthyology at the Florida Museum of Natural History contains additional photographic resources for marine fishes that you need to learn, as well as an excellent field guide to identify common sharks. Browse this site for additional information about Ichthyological Studies.

Enjoy your spring break more by knowing what fish you will encounter.

Ancient Creature of the Deep

2009-03-04T13:21:00.000-05:00

Our discussion today about the "Discovery" of the coelacanth was a good illustration of the great difficulty of doing scientific investigations of a rare and difficult to find species of fish. You demonstrated a good aptitude about hypothesizing explanations. As we learned as our discussion proceeded, the study of the coelacanth proceeds over many decades to further uncover facts about this interesting and ancient fish.

The story is more fully told in books, websites such as DINOFISH, and the PBS special Ancient Creature of the Deep. I encourage you to learn more and take the quiz posted at the Ancient creature of the Deep site.

Two great books that tell the story are A Fish Caught in Time: The Search for the Coelacanth by Samantha Weinberg (New York: Harper Perennial, 2001) and The History of the Coelacanth Fishes by Peter Forey (New York: Chapman and Hall, 1998).

Picture is worth a thousand words; Video clips, priceless

2009-03-04T11:27:00.000-05:00

I am just amazed by how a short video clip can illustrate the fascinating aspects about fishes.
The oceanfootage.com web site has a large collection of short videoclips on fishes which I highly recommend as you continue your studies of fishes. Supplement your lab work sketching new fishes and their distinguishing characteristics with taking close up photographs of key characteristics or whole fish photos. Then explore the life of the fish more deeply by finding photos and video that illustrate the role of the fish in the ecosystem.

I suggest you browse the short video on the Picasso triggerfish -- which illustrates the feeding and cloud of sand flowing out the gill openings.

Bizarre fishes from the Deep Sea

2009-03-03T10:32:00.000-05:00

Among the deepsea fishes, there is one order called the Lampridiformes, which includes large brightly colored pelagic fishes. There are two extreme body forms, the opahs (Lampridae), and the oarfish (Regalicidae). The oarfish are distinguishable because they are long, extremely attenuated and reach lengths of 8 meters! The anterior rays of the dorsal fin and the pelvic rays are highly modified - you just have to see them to believe it.

Another oddity about the oarfish is that they maintain position vertically in the water column. The link to oceanfootage.com has a series of video clips to see this rare creature swimming. Note: the oarfishes are likely responsible for many sea-serpent stories.

The opah, or moonfish, is deepbodied and laterally compressed. It is a solitary fish and most frequently encountered in tuna fisheries.

Neither of these families is on your "need-to-know" list. However, when you encounter an unknown fish anywhere in the world, you can use the family key to fishes at FishBase to identify it.

Learning to Identify and Classify the Fishes

2009-02-26T17:43:00.000-05:00

Over the next three months I am certain that you will learn more fishes than you have known in your lifetime. In addition to the preserved specimens that you will study in lab, we will supplement our teaching materials with high quality photographs - those with sufficient resolution to see key characteristics. The photo at the left is the central stoneroller Campostoma anomalum captured by Ichthyology students in 2007. Many museums have digitized photographs of holotypes of species that you will need to learn. The Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology is one of the best. Go to their website and you can search their collections for specimens with images.

We have many thousands of preserved specimens and many thousands of color photographs or detailed drawings to assist your learning the fishes. The more you look at the more you will build the confidence to identify orders, then families, and finally genera and species.

In 2006, Nelson reported that there were 27,977 valid species of fishes and there is a net increase in species show every year as new species are described and classifications change. The living fishes represent 62 orders and you will learn most of these. There are 515 families, too many to master in one semester. The families with the most species are Cyprinidae, Gobiidae, Cichlidae, Characidae, Loricariidae, Ballitoridae, Serranidae, Labridae, and Scorpaenidae -- you should know these families. We will learn more.

At the end of the semester I will ask you to reflect on your progress toward learning to identify and classify the fishes. Keep track of how many fish you know today, keep accurate notecards of new specimens you describe and learn, learn to sketch and take good quality photographs of fish and key characteristics.

Finally, share your discoveries with the rest of us. When you encounter an interesting and accurate image of a fish species that is new to you, post the photo on the blog and write what you have learned. The more you learn the better, especially if you share this with other students.

I continue to learn new fishes all the time. It is not just in the unexplored parts of the world where new species are discovered. Dr. Richard Mayden discovered a new species of darter, the Chickasaw darter Etheostoma cervus, in a stream just an hour and half from Memphis. If I live to be 100 years old and learn one new fish each day I just might be able to keep up with the new fishes described each year.

Fish are fascinating and learning about fish is fun!

2009-02-02T13:39:00.000-05:00

In order to create a post you will need to sign in (upper right corner of the window). You will need a google account (www.google.com) in order to sign in to Blogger. or an AIM or AOL prfile will work too.
So get your credentials so you can log in and then

Comment below about the special adaptations of the FYWBIYCBAF (fish you would be if you could be a fish).

Look at your fish!!

2009-01-22T14:37:00.000-05:00

Next week we will explore the diversity of forms in the fish world. The more you study fishes you will see that some fish look so strange to us that it's hard to believe they're real. As you read Chapter 2 on Form and Movement, keep in mind the fundamental premise that all species persist because what they look like and what they do help them to survive, avoid getting eaten before they can attract mates. So what you see when you observe a fish is a unique set of traits that are part of a whole strategy to maximize fitness of individuals in a particular place and time. The photo at the right is a Handfish (Brachionichthys hirsutus).

We study anatomy because it is fundamental to how we classify and name fishes. However, if you remember that form relates to function it will be easier to apply your knowledge of anatomy to new fishes that you encounter. Our current classification system for fishes (from Nelson's Fishes of the World, Fourth Edition 2006) uses many character traits and numerous studies. Louis Agassiz (1807-1873) first classified fishes based on scale type alone: Placodermi had placoid scales, Ganoidei had ganoid scales, Cycloidei had cycloid scales, and Ctenoidei had ctenoid scales. Today we recognize groups of Chondrichthyes (placoid) and Osteichthyes, which contain Chondrostei and Holostei (ganoid scales), and Teleostei (cycloid and ctenoid scales).

Louis Agassiz would evaluate a student's potential for science by placing the student alone in a room with a single fish for a day and periodically pop in to quiz the student about what he had learned. The stories from the paleontologist Nathanael Shaler and Samuel Scudder illustrate this premise that "you can learn a great deal about a fish from its exterior traits."

Read Chapter 2 to learn more. Or if you prefer I will leave you alone in the lab for a week with a single fish. Click on the Comment button below and share with us your thoughts about the unique adaptations of the fish that you would be if you could be a fish. What do the exterior traits of this fish tell you about its habits or habitats?

Welcome to Ichthyology

2009-01-20T19:33:00.000-05:00

If you are viewing this blog then you are most likely a student newly enrolled in my class, Stream Habitat ManagementIchthyology. You have reviewed the syllabus, assignments, and read the first few book chapters, and started dissecting the lamprey.

This blog is a place for all students to come together and share their perspectives on learning all about the fishes. Every day many news stories on the plight of our fishes and the conflicts that arise as humans use fish in unsustainable or inappropriate ways, often with little understanding of the complexity. We can learn better by sharing our knowledge and expertise in and out of class.

Some days I may just post a photograph that is meaningful to the topics we are exploring. This image is part of a project to digitize early volumes of the Chicago Field Museum. This emphasizes the lasting importance of quality scientific illustration.

Other days I may post questions and issues via the blog and expect that you will respond to these questions based on your reading the assignments and studies. At other times I will point you to interesting stories.

In the spirit of "Students Quizzing Students" I hope that you will use this blog to post questions about the topics we are studying.