Fishionary | A blog about fish words!

Ichthyology

Posted by abby on February 21, 2014 1 Comment

Ichthyology is the study of fishes

Ichthyology is the study of fishes*. With an estimated 27,977 species, fish are the most numerous and diverse group of vertebrate species. In fact, there are more fish species than all other groups of vertebrates (amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals) combined.

One could argue that people have been studying fish for the purposes of food since prehistoric times, but the scientific study of fish began in earnest during the European Renaissance. While famed taxonomist Carolus Linnaeus did identify many fish species, his colleague, Peter Artedi, is considered the “father of ichthyology” for standardizing morphometric (measurement ) and meristic (count) methods still used to classify species. According to FishBase, a comprehensive, publically accessible database of fish species , over 10 species are named in his honor.

Beginning with basic anatomy and systematics (study of evolutionary relationships among fishes), ichthyology has broadened to include ecology (study of interactions between fish and their environment), physiology (study of internal function of fish), and behavior. Ichthyology forms the foundation of fisheries science which applies the understanding of fishes in the context of fisheries (the harvest of fish and other aquatic organisms for human use).

*Note that fish is singular and plural when in reference to a single species. Fishes is plural in reference to more than one species.

Polyandry

Posted by admin on February 19, 2014 Leave a Comment

Polyandry is a polygamous mating system where a female has multiple male partners during the breeding season. This is a relatively uncommon form of polygamy and has only been reported in anemonefish (Amphiprioninae) and could be the case for deep sea anglerfish (Ceratiidae). Though anemonefish are generally monogamous, polyandry has been reported in some circumstances. In Deep Sea Anglerfish, multiple males can be attached to a large female, almost in a parasitic relationship where their circulatory system merges with the female’s. See polygamous; polygyny.

Deep Sea Anglerfish have parasitic males that
could be considered polyandrous

Polygamous

Posted by admin on February 19, 2014 Leave a Comment

Polygamous is a mating system in which an individual of one sex has multiple partners during the breeding system but individuals of the opposite sex have only one partner. Evolutionarily, these systems are purported to have an increased chance of passing on “good genes” from individuals that compete for the ability to mate with multiple partners. This mating system can occur with one male and many females (see polygyny) or one female and multiple males (see polyandry).

Promiscuous

Posted by admin on February 19, 2014 Leave a Comment

Promiscuous is a mating system where both sexes have multiple partners during the breeding system. In fishes, this is the most common mating system. Breeders make
little or no mate choice and spawn with multiple partners, either sequentially or at the same time.

Breeding aggregations of promiscuous spawners can make some fish species particularly vulnerable to fishing. The fish generally assemble according to environmental cues (e.g., temperature, moon phase) that are known to fishermen. Overfishing on spawning aggregations can be particularly devastating to fish populations because the high fecundity (fertility) individuals are readily removed from the population. The Nassau grouper (Epinephelus
striatus), for example, once supported an important Caribbean fishery but is currently endangered because of overfishing on these spawning aggregations.

Nassau Grouper is a promiscuous
spawner

Strategies—Fish Mating

Posted by admin on February 19, 2014 Leave a Comment

FISH MATING STRATEGIES

In honor of Valentines Day, please enjoy the first series of post for this blog post on fish mating strategies! Check back weekly for new additions to the “Fish-ionary.”

Promiscuous: A mating system where both sexes have multiple partners during the breeding system. In fishes, this is the most common mating system. Breeders make little or no mate choice and spawn with multiple partners, either sequentially or at the same time….read more.
Polygamous: A mating system in which an individual of one sex has multiple partners during the breeding system but individuals of the opposite sex have only one partner…. read more.
Polygyny: A polygamous mating system where a male has multiple female partners during the breeding season. This is the more common form of polygamy….read more.
Polyandry: A polygamous mating system where a female has multiple male partners during the breeding season….read more.
Monogamy: A mating system where partners live and exclusively mate with only each other….read more.

Polygyny

Posted by admin on February 19, 2014 Leave a Comment

Polygyny is a polygamous mating system where a male has multiple female partners during the breeding season. This is the more common form of polygamy.
Polygynous males, like slimy sculpins (Cottus cognatus), setup territories and are visited by multiple females. Other polygynous males, like some African cichlids (such as Mchenga eucinostomus), form leks, where they congregate and perform breeding displays to attract female passers-by. And still other polygynous males, like wrasses (Labridae), form harems where a large male protects a number of females with which he, alone, can mate. See polygamous;
polyandry.

Bluehead Wrasse form polygynous
harems

Monogamy

Posted by admin on February 19, 2014 Leave a Comment

Monogamy is a mating system where partners live and exclusively mate with only each other. These pair bonds can be transitory, just for a single breeding season, extend for several years or even a lifetime. Fish that form strong pair bonds include: American freshwater catfish, some cichlids, and many butterflyfish. The Four-Eyed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon capistratus) is one such fish that mates for life – very rare in the fish world.

Four-eye butterfly fish mate for
life