Physical Characteristics
- Size Thousands of species of bony fishes are less than a few centimeters long as adults. ...
- Body Shape Bony fishes show great variety in body shape, but the "typical" fish body shape is roughly cylindrical and tapering at both ends. ...
- Coloration Most fish species have pigmentation. ...
- Fins All fishes have fins. ...
- Head ...
- Scales ...
- Body Spines ...
- Mucus ...
What are the general characteristics of bony fishes?
- Some bony fishes have soft, flexible fin rays.
- Other bony fishes have spiny, rigid fin rays at the leading edges of the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins.
- Both soft and spiny fin rays are modified scales.
- The spiny fin rays of some species are associated with venom glands. ...
What is one feature of a bony fish?
Which of the following are features of bony fishes quizlet?
- bone. harder + heavier than cartilage, and contained in most skeleton of bony fish.
- lungs or swim bladder. …
- scales. …
- lobe-finned fish. …
- rayed finned fish. …
- operculum. …
- fins. …
- skeleton.
What are the three classes of bony fish?
The 3 Basic Fish Groups
- Bony Fishes. Justin Lewis / Getty Images. Bony fishes are a group of aquatic vertebrates characterized by having a skeleton made of bone.
- Cartilaginous Fish. Michael Aw / Getty Images. Cartilaginous fish are so named because, instead of bony skeletons, their body frame consists of cartilage.
- Lampreys. Sea lamprey, lampern, and Planer's lamprey. ...
What do bony fishes and cartilaginous fishes have in common?
Cartilaginous fishes have skeletons composed mostly of cartilage while bony fish have a skeleton composed mostly of bone. Furthermore, these two types of fish fall under different taxonomic groups – Cartilaginous fish are grouped under the class Chondrichthyes and all bony fish fall under the superclass Osteichthyes.
What are the external features of a bony fish?
They have a bony skeleton, are generally laterally flattened, have five pairs of gills protected by an operculum, and a mouth at or near the tip of the snout. The dermis is covered with overlapping scales. Bony fish have a swim bladder which helps them maintain a constant depth in the water column, but not a cloaca.
What are 5 important features of Osteichthyes?
Key features of OsteichthyesSkeleton more or less bony, vertebrae numerous.Skin with mucous glands and embedded dermal scales.some without scales.Paired fins.Mouth with many teeth (some toothless).jaws present.Respiration by gills supported by bony gill arches and covered by a operculum.
What are the adaptive features of bony fish?
Bony fish have a special adaptation,that allows them to remain buoyant, or float on water. -They have a special organ called a swim bladder, which is under the layer of bony skeleton and filled with gas. -Bony fish are able to breathe without swimming through their Operculum.
What are the 5 examples of bony fish?
Sunfish, bass, catfish, trout, and pike are examples of bony fish, as are the freshwater tropical fish that you see in aquariums. Other species of bony fish include: Tuna. Atlantic cod.
What are bony fish called?
Bony FishAtlantic Porkfish.Atlantic Spadefish.Balloonfish.Barracudas.Blue Tang.Bluestriped Grunt.Cichlids.Crevalle Jack.More items...
Which fish is known as bony fish?
OsteichthyesOsteichthyes (/ˌɒstiːˈɪkθi.iːz/), popularly referred to as the bony fish, is a diverse taxonomic group of fish that have skeletons primarily composed of bone tissue. They can be contrasted with the Chondrichthyes, which have skeletons primarily composed of cartilage.
What is the difference between a bony fish and cartilaginous fish?
What is the difference between bony and cartilaginous fish? Cartilaginous fishes have skeletons composed mostly of cartilage while bony fish have a skeleton composed mostly of bone.
What are the two types of bony fishes?
The bony fish are divided into two classes: ray-finned fish and lobe-finned fish.
What is one example of a bony fish?
Bony fishes have bony skeleton. The examples include These Tuna, Codfish, Salmon.
Do bony fish have gills?
In bony fish, the gills lie in a branchial chamber covered by a bony operculum (branchia is an Ancient Greek word for gills). The great majority of bony fish species have five pairs of gills, although a few have lost some over the course of evolution.
Do bony fish have backbones?
While most do, there are a few fish species that lack spines. Fish without backbones include: Bony fish.
How do bony fishes feed?
Some bony fishes, such as anchovies (family Engraulidae) are filter feeders. They strain plankton from the water with gill rakers. Many bony fishes, including catfishes (Family Ictaluridae) are adapted for bottom feeding. A species' particular mouth shape and teeth are adapted to accommodate a particular diet.
Which of the following is a characteristic feature of Osteichthyes?
Solution : In Osteichthyes, skin is covered with cycloid`//`ctenoid scales. They are mostly oviparous.
How many of the following features mentioned below belong to Osteichthyes?
Solution : Exocoetus, pterophyllum, magur and fighting fish are osteichthyes.
What are the two types of Osteichthyes?
Osteichthyes is subdivided into two subclasses: Sarcopterygii- lobe-finned fish. Actinopterygii- ray-finned fish.
What are the differences between Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes?
The primary difference between these two classes is that members of class chondrichthyes have their skeletal system made of cartilage while members of class osteichthyes have a skeleton made of bone tissue.
How big are bony fish?
Among the smallest is the endangered dwarf pygmy goby ( Pandaka pygmaea ). Adult males reach just 15 mm (0.6 in.), and adult females reach only about 9 mm (0.4 in.).
Where are bony fish's mouths?
Mouth shape and size are good indications of bony fish's feeding habits. Most bony fishes have mouths at the front end of the head. Some bottom-feeding species have mouths on the underside of the snout, angled toward the bottom. Some surface-feeding species have mouths that angle upwards.
What fish has a depressed body?
A depressed (flattened, top-to-bottom) body shape is common in bottom-dwelling fishes. Goosefishes (family Lophidae) and batfishes (family Ogcocephalidae) are examples of bony fishes with a depressed body shape. The body shape of an eel (for example, the morays, family Muraenidae) is an extreme example of an elongated shape.
What is the longest bony fish?
Some species can reach tremendous sizes - much larger than a human. The longest bony fish is the oarfish ( Regalecus glesne ), which can reach 11 m (36 ft.). Among the heaviest of the bony fishes is the common ocean sunfish (Mola mola), which lives throughout warm and temperate seas worldwide.
What are the three ways fish deviate from the fusiform body shape?
Various species of fishes deviate from the fusiform body shape in three ways: compression, depression, and elongation. A laterally compressed (flattened, side-to-side) body shape is common in bony fishes that live in dense cover or within coral reefs.
Why do fish have different colors?
Because the different wavelengths of light are absorbed at various depths, fishes may appear a different color underwater than at the surface.
How many dorsal spines do triggerfish have?
The triggerfishes (family Balistidae) have three dorsal spines that lock together. These spines may allow a triggerfish to securely lodge itself between rocks and keep predators from swallowing it.
What are the characteristics of a bone fish?
Characteristics & Physiology of Bony Fish. Bony fish not only have a hard, calcified skeleton, but a solid cranium protecting their brains as well. These animals depend upon their hinged jaw for feeding, a characteristic that distinguishes them from jawless fish, such as lampreys and hagfish.
What are bony fish made of?
Bony fish have skeletons that are made up of hard, brittle, highly calcified bones - just like your own bones - whereas cartilaginous fish have skeletons that are made up of cartilage that is thin and flexible, just like the material that gives your nose its shape. In this lesson, we'll take a look at bony fish traits and anatomy ...
How do bony fish breathe?
Speaking of dissolved gases, bony fish breathe by moving water across their gills using an operculum, which is a trapdoor-like structure that pumps water across the gills so that the fish can breathe without necessarily moving forward in the water.
What are some examples of bony fish?
Some examples of saltwater bony fish include salmon, tuna, swordfish, perch, flounder, herring, and clownfish.
How many gill arches are there in a bony fish?
Most bony fish have three pairs of gill arches, which are the bony structures that support the gills. They are made up of thin and bony gill filaments that increase the surface area for gas exchange, and in many cases, gill rakers that help fish strain tiny particles out of the water for feeding purposes. The bodies of bony fish are covered ...
What is the meaning of "osteichthy"?
Most of the world's fish are osteichthyes, meaning that they have bony skeletons. In this lesson, we will explore the definition, characteristics, anatomy, and some examples of bony fish. Create an account.
What does a fish look like?
On the outside, all fish pretty much look the same: they have streamlined bodies, scales, fins on their backs and sides, and a tail that moves side to side to propel them. But, if we look under the skin, we find some pretty important differences. Based on these differences, fish can be generally divided into two broad categories or classes based on ...
What class are bony fish?
Bony fish are considered to members of the class Osteichthyes, which is subdivided into two main types of bony fish: Ray-finned fishes, or Actinopterygii. Lobe-finned fishes, or Sarcopterygii, which includes the coelacanths and lungfishes. The subclass Sarcopterygii is made up of about 25,000 species, all characterized by the presence ...
Where do bony fish live?
Habitat and Distribution. Bony fish can be found in waters all around the world, freshwater and saltwater both, unlike cartilagenous fish who are found only in salt waters. Marine bony fish live in all the oceans, from shallow to deep waters, and in both cold and warm temperatures. Their lifespans range from a few months to over 100 years.
What is the subclass of Sarcopterygii?
The subclass Sarcopterygii is made up of about 25,000 species, all characterized by the presence of enamel on their teeth. They have a central axis of bone that acts as a unique skeletal support for fins and limbs, and their upper jaws are fused with their skulls. Two major groups of fishes fit under the Sarcopterygii: the Ceratodontiformes (or lungfishes) and the Coelacanthiformes (or coelacanths), once thought to be extinct.
What are the two types of fish?
Most of the world's fish species are categorized into two types: bony fish and cartilaginous fish. In simple terms, a bony fish (Osteichthyes ) is one whose skeleton is made of bone, while a cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes) has a skeleton made of soft, flexible cartilage. A third type of fish, including eels and hagfish, is the group known as Agnatha, or jawless fish.
What are cartilaginous fish?
The cartilaginous fish include sharks , skates , and rays . Virtually all other fish fall into the class of bony fish which includes over 50,000 species.
How big is an Actinopterygii?
Actinopterygii includes 33,000 species in 453 families. They are found in all aquatic habitats and range in body size from under a half inch to over 26 feet long. The Ocean sunfish weighs up to over 5,000 pounds. The members of this subclass have enlarged pectoral fins and fused pelvic fins. Species include Chondroste, which are primitive ray-finned bony fishes; Holostei or Neopterygii, the intermediate ray-finned fishes like sturgeons, paddlefish, and bichirs; and Teleostei or Neopterygii, the advanced bony fishes such as herring, salmon, and perch.
How long does it take for a bony fish to mature?
Some bony fish are born sexually mature or become mature shortly after birth; most mature within the first one to five years. The main reproduction mechanism is external fertilization. During the spawning season, females release hundreds to thousands of eggs in the water, and males release sperm and fertilize the eggs.
The main characteristics of bony fish, what are the characteristics of bony fish
There are many characteristics of bony fish, such as their bones are highly ossified, their general body shape is mostly spindle-shaped, their fins are relatively complete, and their reproductive mode is mostly oviparous because of in vitro fertilization. The teeth of this kind of fish are relatively changeable and can not grow and replace.
1. Main characteristics
Bony fishes refer to fishes belonging to the class Osteichthyes, which are characterized by a high degree of skeletal sclerosis, in which the skull, spine and appendage bones, and even the scales, have been ossified.
2. Introduction of characteristics
1. Teeth: There are many kinds of bony fish. There are about 20,000 kinds of bony fish in the world. The teeth of different kinds change greatly. There is often no fixed rule. It is mainly related to the food in the environment. But one thing is the same, that is, teeth can not grow and replace.
What class is a bony fish?
Class Osteichthyes includes all bony fishes. Like all fishes, Osteichthyes are cold-blooded vertebrates that breathe through gills and use fins for swimming. Bony fishes share several distinguishing features: a skeleton of bone, scales, paired fins, one pair of gill openings, jaws, and paired nostrils.
How many bony fish are there?
More than 28,000 species of bony fishes have been documented. It's likely that many more, including some deep-sea species, have yet to be identified.
What did fishes develop in the Devonian period?
In the Devonian, fishes began to develop jaws and paired fins. All four living classes of fishes and the three subclasses of Osteichthyes were established by the mid-Devonian.
How many bony fish families are there?
While there is debate over how certain fishes should be classified, scientists recognize more than 500 different bony fish families. The names of bony fish families all end in the suffix "dae".
How long did jawless fish live?
These jawless fishes lived relatively unchanged over the following 100 million years. The Devonian period, about 360 to 400 million years ago, is known as the "Age of Fishes," because of the abundance and diversity of fishes that appeared during this period.
When did bony fish evolve?
Bony fishes continued to evolve after the Devonian period. Most modern orders of bony fishes probably evolved during the Triassic period, about 200 million years ago. Today, the Actinoptergians are the dominant vertebrates in the oceans and in freshwater systems.
What is the subclass of Actinopterygii?
The subclass Actinopterygii includes all other living bony fishes. Actinopterygians are characterized by fins that are supported by bony elements called rays.
What is the shape of a bony fish?from seaworld.org
Bony fishes show great variety in body shape, but the "typical" fish body shape is roughly cylindrical and tapering at both ends. This characteristic fusiform shape is quite energy efficient for swimming. Compared to other body shapes, this body shape creates less drag (the opposing force an object generates as it travels through water).
How big are bony fish?from seaworld.org
Among the smallest is the endangered dwarf pygmy goby ( Pandaka pygmaea ). Adult males reach just 15 mm (0.6 in.), and adult females reach only about 9 mm (0.4 in.).
What is the superclass of a bony fish?from britannica.com
Superclass Osteichthyes (bony fishes) Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) Fins supported by rays of dermal bone rather than by cartilage. A group of jawed fishes so diverse that no single definition for them can be derived; better understood by determining the distinctive characters of the primitive members and…
What is an actinopterygian fish?from britannica.com
Actinopterygian fishes are the common bony fishes of modern aquatic environments. They range in size from fishes that are only millimetres... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by John P. Rafferty, Editor.
What are some examples of saltwater bony fish?from study.com
Some examples of saltwater bony fish include salmon, tuna, swordfish, perch, flounder, herring, and clownfish . Bony fish are members of the class osteichthyes, and are defined by their calcified skeleton, hinged jaw, gill arches, gill filaments, and gill rakers.
What fish has a depressed body?from seaworld.org
A depressed (flattened, top-to-bottom) body shape is common in bottom-dwelling fishes. Goosefishes (family Lophidae) and batfishes (family Ogcocephalidae) are examples of bony fishes with a depressed body shape. The body shape of an eel (for example, the morays, family Muraenidae) is an extreme example of an elongated shape.
What are the fins of a fish?from seaworld.org
Fishes have two kinds of fins: paired fins (pectoral and pelvic) and median fins (dorsal, caudal, and anal). Typically, the paired pectoral fins help a fish turn.
What are the characteristics of fish?from animalsworlds.com
Fish are aquatic vertebrates that have vertebral column called spine. A classic fish is a torpedo shaped. The fish contains head containing a brain and sensory organs, a trunk with a muscular wall surrounding a cavity with the internal organs and a muscular post-anal tail. The following are the general characteristic ...
What adaptations help fish survive in water?from sciencing.com
In some species of fish, air is swallowed and sent to the swim bladder. This adaptation also helps the fish to survive in waters that do not have adequate levels of oxygen. 5. Fins for Movement. Fins are an almost universal characteristic of fish.
Why are gills important for fish?from sciencing.com
Gills are a necessity for underwater life: gills allow fish to absorb oxygen from water and release carbon dioxide, which allows them to “breathe” underwater.
Why do fish have a swim bladder?from sciencing.com
All fish have a swim bladder, which is a specialized organ filled with air that helps ensure fish maintains a stable buoyancy in the water, neither sinking or floating too much . The presence of a swim bladder allows the fish to sleep without sinking to the bottom of its habitat.
What is the difference between cold blooded and cold blooded fish?from sciencing.com
1. All Fish Are Cold-Blooded. All fish are cold-blooded, which is also called ectothermic. This means that fish are unable to regulate their body temperature, relying solely on the outside environment for temperature regulation. The body temperature of fish changes as the environment's temperature changes. 00:00.
Why do fish go dormant?from sciencing.com
A fish's body temperature fluctuates according to the water's temperature around them. As a result, colder waters decrease a fish’s body temperature, which can make them sluggish or go dormant during cold spells (like during the winter months in a lake, for example). 2. Water Habitat. Another shared characteristic amongst all fish is ...
What is the purpose of a fish's tail fin?from sciencing.com
The general purpose of fins is to provide motion, maneuverability, and stability. Pelvic and pectoral fins allow the fish to maneuver and maintain its stability while dorsal and ventral fins reduce the rolling motion while the fish is swimming and aids the fish during turns. The tail fin propels the fish forward while swimming.
Size
Body Shape
- Bony fishes show great variety in body shape, but the "typical" fish body shape is roughly cylindrical and tapering at both ends. This characteristic fusiform shape is quite energy efficient for swimming. Compared to other body shapes, this body shape creates less drag (the opposing force an object generates as it travels through water). Various species of fishes deviate from th…
Coloration
- Most fish species have pigmentation. 1. Pigment is mostly contained in cells called chromatophores. Most fishes can contract and expand their chromatophores to change colors. 2. Reflective cells called iridocytescan change color rapidly. 3. Because the different wavelengths of light are absorbed at various depths, fishes may appear a different color underw…
Fins
- All fishes have fins. Bony fish families show various degrees of fin fusion and reduction. Fins help stabilize or propel a fish in the water. Except in the lungfishes and the coelacanth, fins lack bones. In Actinopterygians, fins are supported by structures called rays. 1. Some bony fishes have soft, flexible fin rays. 2. Other bony fishes have spi...
Head
- Eye size and position vary depending on the habitat and behavior of the species. 1. Some species have eyes positioned for a field of vision below or above their bodies. The South American catfish (family Hypophthalmidae) has eyes directed downward. Many species, including the sand divers (family Dactyloscopidae) have eyes directed toward the surface. 2. In flatfishes in the order Pleu…
Scales
- Most species of bony fishes are covered with and protected by a layer of plates called scales. There are four different kinds of bony fish scales: cosmoid, ganoid, cycloid, and ctenoid. 1. True cosmoid scales are found only on extinct Crossopterygians. The inner layer of a cosmoid scale is compact bone. On top of this bone layer lays a spongy layer and then a layer of cosmine (a type …
Body Spines
- Body spines are modified scales. Protective spines are common in slow-swimming fishes and others that need to protect themselves without moving. Some fishes actively engage spines. 1. Most surgeonfishes (family Acanthuridae) have mobile, razor-sharp precaudal fin spines that they use to protect themselves. 2. The triggerfishes (family Balistidae) have three dorsal spines that l…
Mucus
- A fish secretes a layer of mucus that covers its entire body. Mucus helps protect a fish from infection. In some bony fishes, mucus may serve additional functions. 1. Some species of parrotfishes (family Scaridae) envelop their bodies in mucous bubbles at night while they rest. This mucous barrier may "hide" the parrotfish from nocturnal predators that rely on their sense o…
Description
Species
- Bony fish are considered to members of the class Osteichthyes, which is subdivided into two main types of bony fish: 1. Ray-finned fishes, or Actinopterygii 2. Lobe-finned fishes, or Sarcopterygii, which includes the coelacanthsand lungfishes. The subclass Sarcopterygii is made up of about 25,000 species, all characterized by the presence of enamel on their teeth. They hav…
Habitat and Distribution
- Bony fish can be found in waters all around the world, freshwater and saltwater both, unlike cartilagenous fish who are found only in salt waters. Marine bony fish live in all the oceans, from shallow to deep waters, and in both cold and warm temperatures. Their lifespans range from a few months to over 100 years. An extreme example of bony fish adaptation is the Antarctic icefi…
Diet and Behavior
- A bony fish's prey depends on the species but may include plankton, crustaceans (e.g., crabs), invertebrates (e.g., green sea urchins), and even other fish. Some species of bony fish are virtual omnivores, eating all manner of animal and plant life. Bony fish behavior varies greatly, depending on the species. Smaller bony fish swim in schools for protection. Some like the tuna swim conti…
Reproduction and Offspring
- Some bony fish are born sexually mature or become mature shortly after birth; most mature within the first one to five years. The main reproduction mechanism is external fertilization. During the spawning season, females release hundreds to thousands of eggs in the water, and males release sperm and fertilize the eggs. Not all bony fish do lay eggs: Some are live-bearing. Some are her…
Evolutionary History
- The first fish-like creatures appeared over 500 million years ago. Bony fish and cartilaginous fish diverged into separate classes about 420 million years ago. Cartilaginous species are sometimes seen as more primitive, and for good reason. The evolutionary appearance of bony fish eventually led to land-dwelling vertebrates with bony skeletons. And the gill structure of bony fish gill was …
Conservation Status
- Most bony fish species are classed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), but there numerous species that are Vulnerable, Near Threatened, or Critically Threatened, such as Metriaclima koningsiof Africa.
Sources
- "Bony and Ray-Finned Fishes."Endangered Species International, 2011.
- Class Osteichthyes. The Biology Classroom of Mr. Pletsch. University of British Columbia, February 2, 2017.
- Hastings, Philip A., Harold Jack Walker, and Grantly R. Galland. "Fishes: A Guide to Their Diversity." Berkeley, University of California Press, 2014.
- "Bony and Ray-Finned Fishes."Endangered Species International, 2011.
- Class Osteichthyes. The Biology Classroom of Mr. Pletsch. University of British Columbia, February 2, 2017.
- Hastings, Philip A., Harold Jack Walker, and Grantly R. Galland. "Fishes: A Guide to Their Diversity." Berkeley, University of California Press, 2014.
- Konings, A. "Metriaclima ." The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: e.T124556154A124556170, 2018. koningsi
