Where are we Taxonomically?

Subdivision: Euteleostei

Superorder: Acanthopterygii

Series: Percomorpha

Order: Perciformes

Percomorpha, part IIPercomorpha, part IISuborder Percoidei Suborder Percoidei continued…continued…

Toxotidae: archerfishes Pomacanthidae: angelfishes

Haemulidae: gruntsHaemaleos = bloody (G)

pom (G) = opercle (cover) acanth = spine toxo (G) = bow

(Suborder)(Suborder) LabroideiLabroidei

Percomorpha, part IIPercomorpha, part II

Cichlidae: cichlids

Pomacentridae: damselfishesPoma- = opercle, centron = spine (G)(refers to pointed margin of opercle)

More than 1300 species, tremendousdiversity in morpholgy and ecologyMany are convergent with centrarchids

Look for single nostril anddistinctive broken lateral line

(Suborder)(Suborder) LabroideiLabroidei

Labridae: wrasses

Scaridae: parrotfishes

Percomorpha, part IIPercomorpha, part II

labrum = lip or edge (L)

Latin, sacrus = a fish described by ancient writers; 1601. Derived from Greek, skairo = to jump; due to the legendary jumps and tail bumps, very well known by ancient fishers

BlennioideiBlennioideiBlenniidae: combtooth blennies

Percomorpha, part IIPercomorpha, part II

GobiesocoideiGobiesocoideiGobiesocidae: clingfishes

blennos = similar to mucus; also a kind of fish applied to a species of ray. (g)

gobius = goby (l) + esox = nursery of salmon (g)

GobioideiGobioideiGobiidae: gobies

Percomorpha, part IIPercomorpha, part II

AcanthuroideiAcanthuroidei

Ephippidae: spadefishes

ephippium = Saddle, similar in shape to

a depression of the sphenoid bone

Percomorpha, part IIPercomorpha, part II

AcanthuroideiAcanthuroidei

Acanthuridae: surgeonfishes

Siganidae: rabbitfishessiganus = rabbit fish, by the similarity of the nose (L)

akantha = thorn + oura = tail (G)

ScombroideiScombroideiSphyraenidae: barracudasGreek, sphyraina = a fish similar to

an iron pin, a pike like fish

Percomorpha, part IIPercomorpha, part II

Trichiuridae: cutlassfishes

Scombridae: mackerels, tunas scomber = mackerel (L)

trich (G) = hairur (G) = tail

ScombroideiScombroidei

Istiophoridae: billfishes

Percomorpha, part IIPercomorpha, part II

istion = sail + pherein = to carry (G)

Premaxilla and nasal bones produced, forming a spear-like bill or rostrum with a rounded cross-section. Gill membranes not united to isthmus. Very narrow pelvic fins. Jaw teeth present. Two keels on each side of caudal peduncle in adults. Dorsal fin extending over much of bodylength, sometimes resembling a sail. Dorsal fin can be depresssed into a groove. Lateral line persists in life. Vertebrae 24. Maximum length 4 m.

AnabantoideiAnabantoideiGouramis:Belontiidae/ Osphronemidae

Percomorpha, part IIPercomorpha, part II

Pelvic fins have elongated ray

osphra, -as = smell + nema = filament (G)

PleuronectiformesPleuronectiformespleuro (G) = side, nect (L) = bound

Percomorpha, part IIPercomorpha, part II

Soleidae: Soles

Pleuronectidae: right-eye flounders

Bothidae: left-eye flounders

Cynoglossidae: tongue fishescyno (G) = dog, gloss (G) = tongue

TetraodontiformesTetraodontiformes

Balistidae: triggerfishes (balist = catapult)

Percomorpha, part IIPercomorpha, part II

Ostraciidae: box fishes, cowfishes, trunkfishes ostrac (G) = shell

TetraodontiformesTetraodontiformesPercomorpha, part IIPercomorpha, part II

Tetraodontidae: puffers

tetr (G) = fourodont (G) = teeth

Diodontidae: porcupinefishes, burrfishes

TetraodontiformesTetraodontiformesPercomorpha, part IIPercomorpha, part II

Molidae: ocean sunfishes

mola = millstone, by the shape of this fish