Subphyllum Vertebrata
Suborder Percoidei
EPHIPPIDIDAE. (Spadefishes, ± 17 spp).
*Marine
*Three anal fin spines.
*Body deep and laterally compressed.
*Small mouth.
*No teeth on vomer or palatine.
*Spine portion of dorsal distincted .
*Two subfamilies
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Order Perciformes
Suborder Percoidei
CHAETODONTIDAE. (Butterflyfishes, ± 114 spp).
*Tropical marine.
*Body strongly compressed. *Small serration in preopercule *Dorsal fin continuous, 6-16 spines and 15-30 rays.
*Anal fin with 3-5 spines.
*Caudal fin rounded to emarginate.
*Mouth small,
terminal and protractile.
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Order Perciformes
Suborder Percoidei
POMACANTHIDAE. (Angelfishes, ± 74 spp).
*Body strong compressed. *Strong spine at angle in preopercule.
*Dorsal fin continuous with 9-15 spines and 15-37 rays.
*Anal fin with 3 spines
*Dorsal and anal fins with enlongated extension on hind margin.
*Caudal fin rounded.
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Suborder Labroidei
CICHLIDAE.
(Cichlids , ± 680 spp).
*Fresh and brackish water.
*Single nostril on each side.
*One dorsal fin with 7-25 spines.
*Anal fin with 3-15 spines.
*No subocular shelf.
*In general moderate moderately deep and compressed body.
*Colorful patterns.
*Highly organized breeding activities.
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Order Perciformes
Suborder Labroidei
POMACENTRIDAE.(Damselfishes,±235 spp).
*Marine, rarely brackish.
*Nostril usually single.
*Body usually high and compressed.
*Mouth small
*Lateral line incomplete or interrupted.
*Anal fin with 2, rarely 3 spines.
*Single continous dorsal with 9-14 spines
*Four subfamilies.
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Suborder Labroidei
SCARIDAE.
(Parrotfishes , ± 70 spp).
*Mouth non-protractile, parrot like teeth.
*Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 10 soft rays.
*Anal fin with 3 spines and 9 soft rays.
*Scales large and cicloids, usually 22-24 in lateral line.
*Herbivorous.
*In the night
they secrete a mucus in which they rest.
Order Perciformes
Suborder Blennioidei
Trypterygiidae.
(Three fin blennis , ± 110 spp).
*Marine, primary tropical.
*Dorsal fin divided into three distinct sections, the first two composed of spines and the thrid with never fewer than seven soft rays.
*Anal fin spines 0-2.
*Scales usually cteniods.
*Frist gill arc
attached to opercule by a membrane.
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Suborder Blennioidei
BLENNIDAE.
(Combtooth blennies, ± 301 spp).
*Marine, rarely fresh or brackish water.
*Body naked or with modified scales.
*Head usually blunt.
*Pelvic fin present and anterior to pectorals and 1 short spine.
*Dorsal 3-17 flexible spines; 9-119 segmented rays.
*Anal fin with 2 spines
*No swim bladder.
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Order Perciformes
Suborder Blennioidei
CHAENOPSIDAE.
(Pikeblennis, flagblennis or tubeblennis , ± 56 spp).
*Marine, warm seas of North and South America.
*Body naked. No lateral line.
*Maxilla no visible externally.
*Dorsal fin 17-28 spines.
*Anal fin 2 spines, 19-38 rays.
*Orbital and nasal cirri variable in size.
*Body enlongated
and compress..
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Order Perciformes
Suborder Blennioidei
LABRISOMIDAE.
(Labrisoms, ± 105 spp).
*Marine, mostly tropical.
*Cirri often present on nape, nostril and above the eyes.
*Dorsal fin with more spines than oft rays.
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Order Perciformes
Suborder Gobioidei
GOBIIDAE.
(Gobbies ± 2000 spp).
*Marine, brackish and. Occasionally freshwater.
*Pelvic fin when developed, united, usually forming and adhesive sucking disc.
*Spinous dorsal, when present, separated from soft dorsal and with 2-8 flexible spines.
*Scales cicloids or ctenoids.
*Some species with prominent barbels.
*Smallest vertebrates in world.
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Suborder Sphyraenoidei
SPHYRAENIDAE.
(Barracudas, ± 18 spp).
*Marine, sub and tropical.
*Body enlongated.
*Mouth large with strong fanglike teeth.
*Lateral line well developed.
*Pectoral fins relative low.
*Two separated dorsal fins; the first with five spines and the second with 1 spine and 9 rays.
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Order Perciformes
Suborder Acanthuroidei
ACANTHURIDAE.
(Surgeonfishes ± 77 spp).
*Marine, tropical seas.
*Body deeply compressed.
*Mouth small.
*Swimming bladder large.
*One or more spines in caudal peduncle.
*Premaxilla non-protractile.
*Pelvic fin with 1 spine and 3-5 soft rays.
*Dorsal fin 4-9 spines, 19-42 softrays.
*Anal fin with
2-3.
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Order Perciformes
Suborder Gobioidei
ELEOTRIDIDAE.
(Sleepers ± 150 spp).
*Marine, brackish and. Freshwater, most tropical.
*Pelvic fin separated but base close together or united.
*Mouth never inferior.
*Dorsal with 2-8 flexible spines saparated from rays.
*Scales cycloid or ctenoids.
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Suborder Scombroidei
SCOMBRIDAE.
(Mackerels and tunas, ± 48 spp).
*Marine, sub and tropical.
*Two dorsal fins with finlets behind second dorsal and anal fins.
*First dorsal fin originated well behind head.
*Pectoral fins inserted high on body; Pelvic fins placed beneath the pectorals.
*scales cycloids and small.
*Caudal peduncle with 2 keels.
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Order Perciformes
Suborder Scombroidei
trichiuridae.
(Cutlassfishes ± 17 spp).
*Marine.
*Body very enlongate and strongly compressed.
*Dorsal fin extreely long based with spines and soft rays, notch between the 2 portions.
*Caudal fin small or absent.
*Pelvic fin reduced or absent..
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Order Perciformes
Suborder Anabantoidei
anabantidae.
(Climbing gouramies ± 40 spp).
*Freshwater, rarely brackish.
*Mouth relatively large.
*Cycliod scales.
*Swim bladder divided.
*Male builds a nest of floating bubbles. Males parental care.
*Generally carnivorous.
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Suborder Channoidei
CHANNIDAE.
(Snakeheads ± 12 spp).
*Freshwater tropical.
*Body enlongate.
*Long dorsal and anal fin.
*Pelvic fins usually present.
*No fin spines.
*Cycloid or ctenoid scales.
*Suprabranchial organ for air
breathing present.
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Order Perciformes
Suborder Mastacembeloidei
mastacembelidae
(Spiny eels ± 60 spp).
*Freshwater, Africa and Asia.
*Dorsal fin preceded by a series of isolated spines, 14-35.
*Anal fin with 2-3 spines and 30-130 soft rays.
*Fleshy rostral appendage present.
*Body covered with small scales.
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Order Perciformes
Suborder Mastacembeloidei
mastacembelidae
(Spiny eels ± 60 spp).
*Freshwater, Africa and Asia.
*Dorsal fin preceded by a series of isolated spines, 14-35.
*Anal fin with 2-3 spines and 30-130 soft rays.
*Fleshy rostral appendage present.
*Body covered with small scales.
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Suborder Pleuronectoidei
PARALICHTHYIDAE.
(Lefteye flounders ± 86 spp).
*Marine.
*Eyes sinistral.
*Pelvic fins without spine.
*Egg with a single oil gobule in the yolk.
*Pelvic fin bases short and nearly symmetrical.
*Pectoral and pelvic rays branched.
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Order Pleuronectiformes
Suborder Pleuronectoidei
Pleuronectidae.
(Righteye flounders ± 99 spp).
*Marine, occasionally in brackish, rarely in freshwater.
*Eyes almost always dextral.
*No oil globule in yolk of egg.
*POECILOPSETTINAE: *Origin of dorsal fin above the eyes.
*Lateral line rudimentary on blind side.
*Pelvic fins symmetrical.
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Order Pleuronectiformes
Suborder Soleoidei
CYNOGLOSSIDAE
(Tonguefishes ± 103 spp).
*Marine, some freshwater in tropical and subtropical seas.
*Eyes sinistral.
*Dorsal and anal fins confluent with the pointed caudal fin.
*Usually only left pelvic fin developed.
*Pectorals absent.
*Eyes very small and close together.
*Mouth assymetrical.
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Order Pleuronectiformes
Suborder Soleoidei
achiridae.
(Tonguefishes ± 103 spp).
*Mainly freshwater, American.
*Eyes sinistral.
*Dorsal and anal fins free from caudal fin.
*Right pelvic fin joined to anal fin.
*Eyes very small and close together.
*Mouth assymetrical.
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Suborder Balistoidei
BALISTIDAE.
(Leatherjackets ± 135 spp).
*Marine.
*Body usually compressed and covered with scales.
*No pelvic fins but 1 spine sometimes.
*First dorsal spine with locking mechanism. 3 spines
*Upper jaw not proctractile.
*Upper jaw with teo rows of protruding incisor like teeth.
*Branched rays in soft fins.
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Order Tetradontiformes
Suborder Balistoidei
ostraciidae
(Boxfishes, cowfishes and trunkfishes ± 30 spp).
*Marine tropical.
*Body encased in a bony carapace.
*No pelvic skeleton.
No spinous dorsal fin.
Dorsal and anal fins each with 9-13 rays.
*Upper jaw non-protractile.
*Some discharge a toxic substance which kill other fish.
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Order Tetradontiformes
Suborder Tetradontoidei
Tetraodontidae.
(Puffers ± 103 spp).
*Marine, several entering and occurring in freshwater. Tropical, subtropical.
*Body naked or with only short prickles.
*Four fused teeth in jaws.
*Dorsal and anal fins with 7-18 rays each.
*The viscera of some puffers contains an alkaloid which can be fatal.
Subphyllum Vertebrata
Suborder Tetradontoidei
DIODONTIDAE.
(Porcupinefishes, ± 15 spp).
*Marine.
*Body covered with well-developed sharp spines.
*Two fused teeth in jaws, parrotlike.
*Premaxillaries and dentaries completely fused.
*Adults inhabit
inshoe waters while the young are pelagic.