Ichthyology

  1. Systematics, Taxonomy, and Evolution
    1. Principles of Fish Classification
      1. Taxonomic Hierarchy
        1. Linnaean System
          1. Kingdom
            1. Phylum
              1. Class
                1. Order
                  1. Family
                    1. Genus
                      1. Species
                      2. Nomenclatural Rules
                        1. International Code
                          1. Binomial Nomenclature
                            1. Type Specimens
                              1. Priority Principle
                            2. Phylogenetic Systematics
                              1. Cladistic Methods
                                1. Character Analysis
                                  1. Parsimony Principles
                                    1. Cladogram Construction
                                    2. Synapomorphies
                                      1. Shared Derived Characters
                                        1. Character Polarization
                                          1. Homology Assessment
                                          2. Monophyletic Groups
                                            1. Natural Classifications
                                              1. Evolutionary Relationships
                                            2. Molecular Systematics
                                              1. DNA Sequencing
                                                1. Mitochondrial DNA
                                                  1. Nuclear DNA
                                                    1. Ribosomal RNA
                                                    2. Phylogenetic Analysis
                                                      1. Sequence Alignment
                                                        1. Tree Construction
                                                          1. Bootstrap Support
                                                          2. DNA Barcoding
                                                            1. Species Identification
                                                              1. Cryptic Species Detection
                                                                1. Taxonomic Verification
                                                            2. Major Groups of Fishes
                                                              1. Superclass Agnatha
                                                                1. Class Myxini
                                                                  1. Hagfish Characteristics
                                                                    1. Cartilaginous Skeleton
                                                                      1. Absence of Jaws
                                                                        1. Slime Production
                                                                        2. Morphology and Anatomy
                                                                          1. Body Structure
                                                                            1. Feeding Apparatus
                                                                              1. Sensory Systems
                                                                              2. Ecology and Behavior
                                                                                1. Scavenging Lifestyle
                                                                                  1. Burrowing Behavior
                                                                                    1. Reproduction
                                                                                  2. Class Petromyzontida
                                                                                    1. Lamprey Characteristics
                                                                                      1. Circular Mouth
                                                                                        1. Rasping Tongue
                                                                                          1. Metamorphic Life Cycle
                                                                                          2. Life History
                                                                                            1. Larval Stage
                                                                                              1. Metamorphosis
                                                                                                1. Adult Stage
                                                                                                2. Parasitic and Non-parasitic Species
                                                                                                  1. Feeding Strategies
                                                                                                    1. Host Relationships
                                                                                                3. Class Chondrichthyes
                                                                                                  1. Subclass Elasmobranchii
                                                                                                    1. Sharks
                                                                                                      1. Body Plan and Adaptations
                                                                                                        1. Cartilaginous Skeleton
                                                                                                          1. Placoid Scales
                                                                                                            1. Heterocercal Tail
                                                                                                            2. Feeding Strategies
                                                                                                              1. Filter Feeding
                                                                                                                1. Predatory Behavior
                                                                                                                  1. Scavenging
                                                                                                                  2. Reproduction
                                                                                                                    1. Internal Fertilization
                                                                                                                      1. Reproductive Modes
                                                                                                                        1. Parental Care
                                                                                                                        2. Major Shark Groups
                                                                                                                          1. Ground Sharks
                                                                                                                            1. Mackerel Sharks
                                                                                                                              1. Dogfish Sharks
                                                                                                                                1. Angel Sharks
                                                                                                                                  1. Saw Sharks
                                                                                                                                2. Skates and Rays
                                                                                                                                  1. Morphological Specializations
                                                                                                                                    1. Flattened Body
                                                                                                                                      1. Enlarged Pectoral Fins
                                                                                                                                        1. Ventral Mouth
                                                                                                                                        2. Habitat Adaptations
                                                                                                                                          1. Benthic Lifestyle
                                                                                                                                            1. Burrowing Behavior
                                                                                                                                              1. Swimming Patterns
                                                                                                                                              2. Feeding Ecology
                                                                                                                                                1. Bottom Feeding
                                                                                                                                                  1. Filter Feeding
                                                                                                                                                    1. Predation
                                                                                                                                                    2. Major Ray Groups
                                                                                                                                                      1. Electric Rays
                                                                                                                                                        1. Stingrays
                                                                                                                                                          1. Skates
                                                                                                                                                            1. Sawfish
                                                                                                                                                        2. Subclass Holocephali
                                                                                                                                                          1. Chimaera Characteristics
                                                                                                                                                            1. Cartilaginous Skeleton
                                                                                                                                                              1. Opercular Cover
                                                                                                                                                                1. Tooth Plates
                                                                                                                                                                2. Unique Features
                                                                                                                                                                  1. Clasping Organs
                                                                                                                                                                    1. Lateral Line Canals
                                                                                                                                                                      1. Deep-sea Adaptations
                                                                                                                                                                      2. Ecology and Distribution
                                                                                                                                                                        1. Deep-water Habitats
                                                                                                                                                                          1. Feeding Behavior
                                                                                                                                                                      3. Superclass Osteichthyes
                                                                                                                                                                        1. Class Sarcopterygii
                                                                                                                                                                          1. Coelacanths
                                                                                                                                                                            1. Rediscovery History
                                                                                                                                                                              1. Morphological Features
                                                                                                                                                                                1. Lobed Fins
                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Cosmoid Scales
                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Rostral Organ
                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Evolutionary Significance
                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Living Fossil Status
                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Tetrapod Relationships
                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Lungfishes
                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Air-breathing Adaptations
                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Lung Structure
                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Dual Circulation
                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Aestivation
                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Geographic Distribution
                                                                                                                                                                                                1. African Lungfish
                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. South American Lungfish
                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Australian Lungfish
                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Evolutionary Importance
                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Tetrapod Ancestry
                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Primitive Features
                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Class Actinopterygii
                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Basal Ray-finned Fishes
                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Polypteriformes
                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Bichirs and Reedfish
                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Primitive Characteristics
                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. African Distribution
                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Acipenseriformes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Sturgeons
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Cartilaginous Skeleton
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Heterocercal Tail
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Anadromous Behavior
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Paddlefish
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Filter Feeding
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Electroreception
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Neopterygii
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Holostei
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Lepisosteiformes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Gars
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Ganoid Scales
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Air-breathing Ability
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Amiiformes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Bowfin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Primitive Features
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Parental Care
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Teleostei
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Defining Characteristics
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Homocercal Tail
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Mobile Premaxilla
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Cycloid or Ctenoid Scales
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Evolutionary Success
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Species Diversity
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Adaptive Radiation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Ecological Dominance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Major Teleost Orders
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Osteoglossomorpha
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Primitive Teleost Features
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Freshwater Distribution
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Key Families
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Osteoglossidae
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Mormyridae
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Gymnarchidae
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Elopomorpha
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Leptocephalus Larvae
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Transparent Body
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Metamorphic Development
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Major Groups
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Elopiformes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Tarpons
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Ladyfish
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Anguilliformes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. True Eels
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Catadromous Migration
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Saccopharyngiformes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Deep-sea Eels
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Extreme Adaptations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Clupeomorpha
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Schooling Behavior
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Planktivorous Feeding
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Commercial Importance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Major Families
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Clupeidae
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Engraulidae
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Ostariophysi
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Weberian Apparatus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Hearing Enhancement
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Sound Detection
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Freshwater Dominance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Major Orders
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Cypriniformes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Carps and Minnows
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Global Distribution
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Characiformes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Characins
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Neotropical Diversity
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Siluriformes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Catfishes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Barbel Adaptations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Gymnotiformes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Electric Fish
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Electroreception
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Euteleostei
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Advanced Teleost Features
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Diverse Adaptations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Major Subdivisions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Protacanthopterygii
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Salmoniformes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Salmon and Trout
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Anadromous Behavior
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Esociformes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Pikes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Predatory Adaptations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Paracanthopterygii
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Gadiformes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Cods and Hakes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Marine Distribution
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Lophiiformes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Anglerfishes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Deep-sea Adaptations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Acanthopterygii
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Spiny-rayed Fishes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Greatest Diversity
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Major Orders
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Perciformes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Pleuronectiformes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Tetraodontiformes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Scorpaeniformes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Fish Evolution and Paleontology
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Origin of Vertebrates
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Cambrian Explosion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Early Chordate Features
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Pikaia and Relatives
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Paleozoic Fish Evolution
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Ordovician First Fishes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Arandaspis
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Sacabambaspis
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Silurian Diversification
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Jawless Fish Radiation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Early Jawed Fish
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Devonian Age of Fishes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Placoderm Dominance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Shark Evolution
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Bony Fish Origins
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Carboniferous Transitions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Freshwater Invasions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Tetrapod Origins
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Permian Extinctions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. End-Permian Crisis
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Survivor Groups
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Mesozoic Fish Evolution
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Triassic Recovery
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Modern Group Origins
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Jurassic Diversification
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Teleost Emergence
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Cretaceous Radiation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Modern Fish Groups
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Cenozoic Fish Evolution
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Paleogene Diversification
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Neogene Modernization
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Quaternary Ice Ages
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Glacial Refugia
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Post-glacial Recolonization
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Key Evolutionary Innovations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Evolution of Jaws
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Feeding Advantages
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Predatory Lifestyle
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Evolution of Paired Fins
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Locomotory Improvements
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Maneuverability
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Evolution of Swim Bladder
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Buoyancy Control
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Hearing Enhancement
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Evolution of Advanced Jaw Mechanics
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Pharyngeal Jaws
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Suction Feeding

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Go to top

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Fish Ecology and Behavior