BIOL 404 Ichthyology - the study of fishes
Jan 11, 2016
BIOL 404 IchthyologyBIOL 404 Ichthyology- the study of fishes- the study of fishes
FishesFishes
Most numerous and diverse of the major vertebrate groups
More classes of fishes than all other vertebrates combined
Most numerous and diverse of the major vertebrate groups
More classes of fishes than all other vertebrates combined
Status of FishStatus of Fish
“Humans are not the pinnacle of evolutionary progress but only an aberrant side branch of fish evolution.”
- P.B. Moyle & J.J. Cech, Jr., 2004
“Humans are not the pinnacle of evolutionary progress but only an aberrant side branch of fish evolution.”
- P.B. Moyle & J.J. Cech, Jr., 2004
Bony Fishes
Founders of IchthyologyFounders of Ichthyology
AristotleAristotle
First known ichthyologist - 348-322 BC Recognized 117 species of fish,
distinguished fish from whales
First known ichthyologist - 348-322 BC Recognized 117 species of fish,
distinguished fish from whales
Peter ArtediPeter Artedi
“Father of Ichthyology” - 1705-1734 Classification system of fishes Standardized measurements and counts
that remain basis of fish taxonomy today
“Father of Ichthyology” - 1705-1734 Classification system of fishes Standardized measurements and counts
that remain basis of fish taxonomy today
Peter ArtediPeter Artedi
Friend of Carolus Linneaus, who published his works after Artedi died by drowning in a canal in Amsterdam after a night of drinking
Friend of Carolus Linneaus, who published his works after Artedi died by drowning in a canal in Amsterdam after a night of drinking
Carolus LinneausCarolus Linneaus
1707-1778 - adapted Artedi’s system to use in his Systema Naturae - basis for all future classification systems
Extremely arrogant - some believe he may have been connected to Artedi’s death (competition between them)
1707-1778 - adapted Artedi’s system to use in his Systema Naturae - basis for all future classification systems
Extremely arrogant - some believe he may have been connected to Artedi’s death (competition between them)
Georges CuvierGeorges Cuvier
1769-1832 - classified all known species of fishes
Conducted detailed studies of fish anatomy Compiled early history of ichthyology
1769-1832 - classified all known species of fishes
Conducted detailed studies of fish anatomy Compiled early history of ichthyology
Constantine RafinesqueConstantine Rafinesque
1783-1840 - produced the most detailed early account of fish in North America - Ichthyologia Ohiensis - 1820
Natural history of fishes of the Ohio River and its tributaries
1783-1840 - produced the most detailed early account of fish in North America - Ichthyologia Ohiensis - 1820
Natural history of fishes of the Ohio River and its tributaries
Louis AgassizLouis Agassiz
1807-1873 - important volumes on classification based on fossil fishes
Strong non-believer of evolution, but work laid foundation for evolution studies of fish
Popularizer of science to American public
1807-1873 - important volumes on classification based on fossil fishes
Strong non-believer of evolution, but work laid foundation for evolution studies of fish
Popularizer of science to American public
Johannes MullerJohannes Muller
1801-1858 - in Germany - revised Agassiz’s classification system to include most major groups still used today
1801-1858 - in Germany - revised Agassiz’s classification system to include most major groups still used today
Albert GuntherAlbert Gunther
1830-1914 - British Museum - last person to attempt to describe all species of fishes in the world
1830-1914 - British Museum - last person to attempt to describe all species of fishes in the world
David Starr JordanDavid Starr Jordan
1851-1931 - two major texts, plus president of Stanford
Fishes of North and Middle America Guide to the Study of Fishes (ichthyology
text)
1851-1931 - two major texts, plus president of Stanford
Fishes of North and Middle America Guide to the Study of Fishes (ichthyology
text)
Carl L. HubbsCarl L. Hubbs
1894-1979 - two important texts Classification of Fishes (standard
reference) Fishes of the Great Lakes Region
1894-1979 - two important texts Classification of Fishes (standard
reference) Fishes of the Great Lakes Region
Ichthyology JobsIchthyology Jobs
Applied research - state, federal agencies - fisheries management
University teaching/research Museum research/curatorship Collection management Public aquaria & aquarium hobby Conservation agencies (protection)
Applied research - state, federal agencies - fisheries management
University teaching/research Museum research/curatorship Collection management Public aquaria & aquarium hobby Conservation agencies (protection)
Position within Animal Kingdom
Position within Animal Kingdom
Phylum Chordata
Deuterostome branch along with echinoderms & hemichordates
Phylum Chordata
Deuterostome branch along with echinoderms & hemichordates
Within Phylum ChordataWithin Phylum Chordata
Notochord Dorsal, hollow
nerve cord Pharyngeal gill
slits Postanal tail
Notochord Dorsal, hollow
nerve cord Pharyngeal gill
slits Postanal tail
Phylum ChordataPhylum Chordata
3 subphyla
Urochordata Cephalochordat
a Vertebrata
3 subphyla
Urochordata Cephalochordat
a Vertebrata
Subphylum UrochordataSubphylum Urochordata
Tunicates or sea squirts Tunicates or sea squirts
Subphylum Cephalochordata
Subphylum Cephalochordata
Lancelets Lancelets
Subphylum VertebrataSubphylum Vertebrata
Vertebrates Vertebrates
Evolution & Major Groups:A Quick Overview
Evolution & Major Groups:A Quick Overview
The First FishThe First Fish
Ostracoderms appear in Cambrian fossils Class Agnatha or Ostracodermi Jawless, bony armor, many with bony
endoskeleton Most inhabited freshwater
Ostracoderms appear in Cambrian fossils Class Agnatha or Ostracodermi Jawless, bony armor, many with bony
endoskeleton Most inhabited freshwater
The Next FishThe Next Fish
Ostracoderms disappear and placoderms appear in Devonian fossils
Class Placodermi Jaws, paired fins, bony armor and endoskeleton Not directly ancestral to higher fishes May have given rise to cartilaginous fishes
Ostracoderms disappear and placoderms appear in Devonian fossils
Class Placodermi Jaws, paired fins, bony armor and endoskeleton Not directly ancestral to higher fishes May have given rise to cartilaginous fishes
First ChondrichthyesFirst Chondrichthyes
Appeared in late Devonian
Differed from modern sharks
Terminal mouth Pectoral fins
broadly joined to body
No pelvic claspers
Appeared in late Devonian
Differed from modern sharks
Terminal mouth Pectoral fins
broadly joined to body
No pelvic claspers
Skates & RaysSkates & Rays
Subclass Elasmobranchii (same as sharks)
Appeared in Mesozoic Descended from primitive sharks
Subclass Elasmobranchii (same as sharks)
Appeared in Mesozoic Descended from primitive sharks
ChimaerasChimaeras
Subclass Holocephali Appeared shortly after primitive sharks,
did not arise from them Arose independently from placoderms?
Subclass Holocephali Appeared shortly after primitive sharks,
did not arise from them Arose independently from placoderms?
Osteichthyes - bony fishesOsteichthyes - bony fishes
Arose in late Silurian Probably from freshwater Followed two lines of development:
Sarcopterygii - fleshy-finned Actinopterygii - ray-finned
Arose in late Silurian Probably from freshwater Followed two lines of development:
Sarcopterygii - fleshy-finned Actinopterygii - ray-finned
Bony Fishes
Sarcopterygii: CrossopterygiiSarcopterygii: Crossopterygii
Lobe-finned fishes Ancestral to first amphibians Tetrapod-like bones in lobe fins Thought extinct until 1939 - coelocanth in
Indian Ocean
Lobe-finned fishes Ancestral to first amphibians Tetrapod-like bones in lobe fins Thought extinct until 1939 - coelocanth in
Indian Ocean
Sarcopterygii: CrossopterygiiSarcopterygii: Crossopterygii
Sarcopterygii: DipnoiSarcopterygii: Dipnoi
Lungfishes - air bladder modified into “lung” Peaked in Paleozoic, then declined 3 living genera: Australia, Africa, South
America
Lungfishes - air bladder modified into “lung” Peaked in Paleozoic, then declined 3 living genera: Australia, Africa, South
America
Bony Fishes
Actinopterygii: Chondrostei
Actinopterygii: Chondrostei
Cartilaginous ganoids Paddlefish and sturgeons Became dominant during Paleozoic,
then declined
Cartilaginous ganoids Paddlefish and sturgeons Became dominant during Paleozoic,
then declined
Actinopterygii: HolosteiActinopterygii: Holostei
Bony ganoids Gars and bowfin Became dominant during Mesozoic,
then declined
Bony ganoids Gars and bowfin Became dominant during Mesozoic,
then declined
Actinopterygii: TeleosteiActinopterygii: Teleostei
Higher bony fishes Common modern fishes Became dominant during Cenozoic, still
dominant
Higher bony fishes Common modern fishes Became dominant during Cenozoic, still
dominant
Bony Fishes