Phylogeny is the representation of evolutionary relationships, often displayed as a “tree” (i.e., branching diagram) where the most closely related organisms are connected by a node and more distantly related organisms have multiple steps back in the tree before they are connected. Nodes are often characterized by biogeographic events and evolutionary innovations. In fishes, jawless … [Read more…]
A scute is an external bony plate on the surface of a fish. Scutes serve a protective function, acting as a body armor for fish against environmental abrasions and even predation. In some fishes, such as Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), scutes are a row of scales modified into sharp, protective plates. In other fishes, like Shovelnose … [Read more…]
Osteichthyes are a taxonomic grouping of bony fishes. This group includes ray-finned fishes (class: Actinopterygii) and lobe-finned fishes (class: Sarcopterygii). This highly diverse group of fishes, which contains almost all fish species, is the most diverse group of vertebrates today. Osteichthyes differ from chondrichthyes by (in most cases) possessing a bony skeleton, a swim bladder, … [Read more…]
Placoid denticles are found on sharks, rays, and chimaeras. Not really a true “scale,” like ctenoid or cycloid scales, placoid denticles are actually modified teeth. They have an inner tissue component, which contains both blood vessels and nerves, that is covered by a layer of dentin and an outer enamel. They form a tough protective skin … [Read more…]
Ganoid scales are dimond-shaped scales found in lower order fishes such as the bichirs (Polypteridae), Bowfin (Amia calva), paddlefishes (Polyodontidae), gars (Lepisosteidae), and sturgeons (Acipenseridae). Unlike ctenoid or cycloid scales, ganoid scales are comprised of bone. They have a bony basal layer, a layer of dentin (also found in human teeth), and an outer layer … [Read more…]
Ctenoid scales are scales with comb-like edge found in higher order teleost fishes, such as perch and sunfish. Cteni are the tiny teeth on the posterior margin of the scale. Similar to cycloid scales, they are overlapping which allows for greater flexibility in movement than other types of scales such as ganoid scales. The surface layer … [Read more…]
Cycloid scales are smooth-edged scales predominately found in lower order teleost fishes, such as salmon, carp and other soft fin rayed fish. Similar to ctenoid scales, they are overlapping which allow for greater flexibility in movement than other types of scales such as ganoid scales. The surface layer of the scale is comprised of calcium-based … [Read more…]