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