Laterally compressed

body shapeFish Anatomy

Fish Anatomy

Fusiform

body shape

Fish Anatomygills

Fish Anatomyscales

Fish Anatomyfins

Fish Anatomyfins

Fish Anatomylateral line

Fish Anatomyswim bladder

Fish Anatomyeyes

Fish Anatomyears

Fish Anatomynares (nose)

Fish Anatomycoloration

BLUEGILL

• Small, flattened fish, shaped like the palm of a hand• 2 part dorsal fin – spines in front, and soft rays in back• Small mouth (edge of mouth doesn’t reach the front of the eye)• Dark vertical stripes on sides• Ear flap is black• Breast is yellow/orange• Chin and lower part of gill cover is blue

Fish ID

BLUEGILL

• Small, flattened fish, shaped like the palm of a hand• 2 part dorsal fin – spines in front, and soft rays in back• Small mouth (edge of mouth doesn’t reach the front of the eye)• Dark vertical stripes on sides• Ear flap is black• Breast is yellow/orange• Chin and lower part of gill cover is blue

Spines are sharp like needles!They help protect the fish from larger fish.

Fish ID

BLUEGILL

• Small, flattened fish, shaped like the palm of a hand• 2 part dorsal fin – spines in front, and soft rays in back• Small mouth (edge of mouth doesn’t reach the front of the eye)• Dark vertical stripes on sides• Ear flap is black• Breast is yellow/orange• Chin and lower part of gill cover is blue

Bluegill spend most of their time in vegetation.The vertical stripes help camouflage them.

Fish ID

BLUEGILL

• Small, flattened fish, shaped like the palm of a hand• 2 part dorsal fin – spines in front, and soft rays in back• Small mouth (edge of mouth doesn’t reach the front of the eye)• Dark vertical stripes on sides• Ear flap is black• Breast is yellow/orange• Chin and lower part of gill cover is blue

Bluegill primarily eat aquatic insects and other invertebrates.

Fish ID

GREENSUNFISH

DISTINGUISHED FROM BLUEGILL BY:• Body is longer than round • Larger mouth (edge of mouth reaches the front of the eye)• Fins tipped in yellow/orange• Ear flap has yellow/orange edge• Blue streaks on the sides of head

Fish ID

LARGEMOUTHBASS

• Body is long instead of round • Very large mouth (edge of mouth reaches past the eye)• White on bottom• Dark stripe on sides• Spiny and soft-rayed parts of dorsal fin nearly separate• Can get larger than sunfish – up to 10 lbs. in Nebraska

Fish ID

LARGEMOUTHBASS

• Body is long instead of round • Very large mouth (edge of mouth reaches past the eye)• White on bottom• Dark stripe on sides• Spiny and soft-rayed parts of dorsal fin nearly separate• Can get larger than sunfish – up to 10 lbs. in Nebraska

Dark on top & light on bottom is called countershading.

It camouflages a fish from predators.

Fish ID

CHANNEL CATFISH• No scales on body• Whiskers (barbels) on mouth• Small fatty adipose fin on back• When small, dark spots on sides of body• Forked tail fin• Can get very large – record is 41.5 lbs. in Nebraska

Fish ID

CHANNEL CATFISH• No scales on body• Whiskers (barbels) on mouth• Small fatty adipose fin on back• When small, dark spots on sides of body• Forked tail fin• Can get very large – record is 41.5 lbs. in Nebraska

Barbels don’t sting!

They are covered in ‘tastebuds’ and used to locate food.

Spines on the pelvic & dorsal fins are the things to be careful of!

Fish ID

BLACK BULLHEAD

DISTINGUISHED FROM CHANNEL CATFISH BY:• No spots on sides of body• Brown or golden orange color• Rounded tail fin• Does not grow to large sizes

Fish ID

RAINBOW TROUT• Long, streamlined body• Very small scales• Small fatty adipose fin on back• Small black spots on body and tail fin, dorsal fin• Pinkish stripe on sides• Can get large – record is 14 lbs. in Nebraska

Fish ID

Fish Handling

Measuring Fish