Diversity and Ecology of Bony Fishes

Actinopterygians

•      Appeared as early as the Silurian

•      24,000 extant species

•      Most numerous and species-rich lineage of vertebrates

Chondrosteans

•      Primitive group

–    Great diversity during late Paleozioc

–    Few extant species

•      Notochord primary support structure

–    Ossified neural and hemal arches

•      Ganoid Scales

Bichirs and reedfish

•       Most primitive group

•       Reedfishes are obligate airbreathers with paired lungs.

•       They are found only in freshwater.

•       These are native to Africa and commonly sold in the aquarium trade.

•       Ten species.

Sturgeon and Paddle fish

•      26 living species

•      Northern hemisphere in coastal and freshwater habitats

Neopterygians

•      Great range of morphologies, lifestyles and exist in a variety of aquatic habitats

•      Scales rounder and thinner - more flexibility

•      Notochord replaced by ossified vertebrae

Lepisosteiformes (Gars)

•      7 living species

•      North and Central America in fresh and brackish water

Amiiformes (Bowfin)

•      One species

•      North America Freshwater

Osteoglossomorpha (Bony tongues)

Elopomorpha

Clupeomorpha

Ostariophysi (Catfish)

Protocanthopterygii (Trout)

lanternfishes

Paracanthopterygii (Codfish)

Perciformes (Perch)

Anadromous Fishes

•      Spend most of their lives in Saltwater

•      migrate to freshwater to breed

•      Example: Salmon

Catadromous

•      Spend a majority of their lives in freshwater

•      Move to the oceans to breed

•      Example: American Eel