Ch 8 Homework Part 2

BONY FISH p. 157

1. What is a homocercal caudal fin?
ANS: The upper and lower lobes of the caudal fin are about the same in size.

2. Use Figure 8.8 to find at least five differences between cartilaginous and bony fish.
ANS: Homocercal vs heterocercal caudal fin, Dorsal fins more connected in bony fish, terminal vs ventral mouth
location, bony fish have an operculum, placoid vs cycloid or ctenoid scales.

3. What is a swim bladder?

ANS: A gas-filled sac just above the stomach that allows fish to control their buoyancy.

4. Be able to identify and label the fins of cartilaginous and bony fish.
ANS: Dorsal, caudal, pectoral, anal, pelvic.

Biology of Fish, Fish Shape, Coloration p.158-159

5. Sketch the cross-sections and briefly describe the nine body shapes in Figure 8.9 (Insert ->drawing->new). How
are they adapted for the fish’s lifestyle and habitat?
ANS

6. What are chromatophores?

ANS: Special cells in the skin of fishes that help give them their colors.

7. What are structural colors? What causes them? What are iridophores?
ANS: Colors that result in the iridescent, shiny appearances of fish.

ANS: Structural colors are caused when special surfaces reflect certain colors of light.

ANS: Special chromatophores that contain tiny crystals which act as mirrors that reflect the light needed for
 structural colors.

8. What is warning coloration? cryptic coloration? disruptive coloration?

ANS: When fish have colors that warn predators that they are poisonous, dangerous, or taste bad

ANS: Similar to camouflage, used to blend into the environment to avoid predators

ANS: Color stripes, bars, or spots that help break up the outline of fish against their background.

9. Describe countershading. What is the advantage of countershading to a predator?

ANS: The bellies of the fish will be a light color, like white or silver, while their top will be dark. This hides them
from being seen from above and from below.

Locomotion p. 159-160
10. Locomotion in fishes is mostly the result of undulation of the...
ANS: myomeres

11. Carefully read and distinguish the locomotion of the fishes in Figure 8.11
ANS: Got it

Feeding and Digestion pp.160-162

12. How do sharks take a bite of their prey?
ANS: They bite their prey with their powerful jaws and shake their heads to tear off a chunk.

13. Describe the structures for capturing prey in filter feeders.

ANS: Filter feeders have a structure called gill rakers, which run along the inside of the gill arches. Water is
strained through the gill rakers, and the animal swallows whatever food is left behind.

14. What is a protrusible jaw?

ANS: A mechanism that some fish have which allows them to basically extend their mouths outward.

15 What do fish grazers eat?

ANS: Seaweeds and plants.

16. Look at Figure 8.13. What does mouth shape tell you about the diet of fish?
ANS: The barracuda is a carnivore which eats medium sized prey. The butterfly fish could only eat small prey, but
it could reach into small holes on coral as well. The herring looks like it could eat small prey, or perhaps filter feed
a bit. The slipmouth looks like it could be a grazer. The parrot fishes hard jaws allow it to crunch coral.

17. Use Figure 8.14 and describe the movement of food (the order of the organs it passes through) as it is digested
by sharks or bony fish.
ANS: In bony fish, food is swallowed through the mouth. Next, it passes straight into the stomach, and then
through the intestine. Finally, waste exits through the anus.
18. What is the advantage of a spiral valve?
ANS: A spiral valve increases the surface area of the inside of the intestine, which enhances its ability to absorb
nutrients.