DYQ20043 (FISH BIOLOGY)

CHAPTER 3:
EXTERNAL
CHARACTERISTICS
Prepared by: Mr Jayronna Johnny
Polytechnic of Sandakan Sabah
 3.1 DESCRIBE THE EXTERNAL
CHARACTERISTICS
3.1.1 Potential freshwater cultured species.
a. Tilapia
b. Cat fishes
c. Freshwater prawn

3.1.2 Potential brackish water cultured species.

a. Sea bass
b. Cockles
c. Mud crabs

3.1.3 Potential marine cultured species.

a. Groupers
b. Marine shrimps
c. Seaweed
 GENERAL DIMENSION
MEDIAN
DORSAL REFERS TO THE
REFERS TO THE UPPER CENTER/MIDDLE OF BODY
SURFACE STRUCTURE

ANTERIOR POSTERIOR
REFERS TO THE FRONT END REFERS TO THE BACK/REAR
PART OF BODY END PART OF BODY

LATERAL VENTRAL
REFERS TO THE SIDE OF REFERS TO THE LOWER OR
BODY BOTTOM SURFACE
 MAIN EXTERNAL BODY

pectoral caudal peduncle

The narrow part of a fish's body to
ventral of operculum include the
which the caudal or tail fin is
upper fin base of pectoral
attached

torax abdomen
area in front of pectoral fins located in the area between the
ventral and anal of pectoral fins
 THREE MAIN
MEASUREMENTS
• TOTAL LENGTH
• STANDARD LENGTH
• FORK LENGTH

FISH LENGTH
= STRAIGHT LINE MEASUREMENT
FROM THE TIP OF THE MOUTH TO THE
VARIOUS PARTS OF THE POSTERIOR
 COMMON
MEASUREMENTS

TOTAL LENGTH
• THE DISTANCE FROM THE TIP OF
THE MOUTH TO THE TIP OF THE
CAUDAL FIN

STANDARD LENGTH
• THE DISTANCE FROM THE TIP OF
THE MOUTH TO THE LAST
VERTEBRAE

FORK LENGTH
• THE DISTANCE FROM THE TIP OF
THE MOUTH TO THE CAUDAL FIN
ARM
EXTERNAL CHARACTERISTICS
 MAIN EXTERNAL BODY

HEAD BODY/TRUNK CAUDAL/TAIL

EXTENDING TO THE AREA FROM OPERCULUM BEHIND THE ANAL UNTIL
POSTERIOR EDGE OF THE EDGE TO THE ANUS THE OPENING OF
OPERCULUM/GILL COVER CAUDAL FIN
CAN YOU STATE WHAT
FEATURE/STRUCTURE
THAT CAN BE FOUND AT
THE THREE DIFFERENT
PARTS OF FISH?
 SOME ADDITIONAL EXTERNAL STRUCTURES

Salmo sp. Yellowfin tuna Hardtail scad Yellowfin tuna

ADIPOSE FIN FINLET SCUTE KEEL

a small fleshy fin found Small non-retractable fins, external bony plate on A lateral ridge found just
posterior to the dorsal generally on the caudal the surface of a fish. anterior to each side of the
fin and anterior of the peduncle between the last
Scutes serve a tail fin on the caudal
caudal fin. It is only dorsal or anal fin and the
protective function, peduncle of some types of
found on few fish, caudal fin of some fishes. In
acting as a body armor fast-swimming fish. The
including trout, salmon, some groups, such as tuna,
for fish against keels improve the stability
and catfish. When it was finlets are rayless.
environmental of the fish's attitude at
named, it was thought abrasions and even speed in the water, and
to hold fat, or adipose, predation. strengthen the support of
tissue.
the caudal fin
what
are
fins?
types of caudal fin
 barramundi
climbing perch carp
 channel catfish
forked
lake trout

selaroides leptolepis

lunate
mahi mahi
indian mackerel
 African catfish

Nile tilapia

can you tell which

type of caudal fin
these fish have?
Giant grouper
EXAMPLES
 Let's learn about
some of the potential
freshwater culture
species
 TILAPIA
Oreochromis niloticus
CATFISH
Clarias sp.
FRESHWATER PRAWN
Macrobrachium rosenbergii
 Let's learn about
some of the potential
brackish culture
species
 soft
spiny scales
dorsal fin
dorsal fin caudal
eye
fin
mouth

caudal
operculum lateral anus/ peduncle
pectoral fin line
pelvic/ventral fin vent anal fin

ASEAN SEABASS/ BARAMUNDDI

Lates calcarifer
 Cockle
Anadara granosa
 Mud crab
Scylla serrata
 Let's learn about
some of the potential
marine culture
species
 Grouper
Epinephelus sp.
 White shrimp
Litopenaeus vannamei
 Seaweed

Euchema sp. Kappaphycus sp.

Morphology of seaweed:
a) the main thallus,
b) branch I,
c) branch II,
d) branch III,
e) primary internodes,
f) secondary internodes.
3.2 Classify the above species according to external characteristics

3.2.1 Body shape characteristics

3.2.2 Walking movement and swimming characteristics

3.2.3 Mouth characteristics

3.2.4 Skin and scale characteristics

 FISH
BODY
SHAPE
Can you classify the
following species based
on their body shape?

• Tilapia
• Catfish
• Grouper
• Sea bass
 Modes of Locomotion
• Propulsion by body and/or caudal fin

• Propulsion by undulation of median or pectoral fins

• Propulsion by oscillation of median or pectoral fins

• Non-swimming locomotion
Modes of Swimming
Body/Caudal Fin (BCF) Locomotion
Anguilliform
• Large side-to-side amplitude of the
wave along the whole body
• Purely undulatory, most of the body
participates
• Lungfish and some sharks. In larval
stage some fish swim in
anguilliform mode and then switch.
Body/Caudal Fin (BCF) Locomotion

Subcarangiform

• Similar to anguilliform
-Posterior half of the body
• Anterior portion of the body often
rounded or thick
-Anterior portion low flexibility
-Posterior undulations
• Caudal fin rounded, truncate, or
emarginate
-Trout, cods, basses
Body/Caudal Fin (BCF) Locomotion
Carangiform

• Posterior body flexes

-Anterior 1/2 or 2/3 body inflexible
• Narrow caudal peduncle
-Posterior portion of body tapers
• Caudal fin forked or lunate= (half moon)
-High aspect ratio
• Herrings, sardines, some jacks and some
mackerals
• Fast swimmers and narrow caudal
peduncles. Max swimming with min
wake (energy use)
Body/Caudal Fin (BCF) Locomotion
Thunniform

• Most efficient locomotion mode (but

few species)
• High cruising speeds to be maintained
for long periods.
• Significant lateral movements occur
only at the caudal fin and area near the
narrow peduncle
• Stiff caudal fins
- Aspect ratio (4-10)
• Marlins, sailfishes, Lamnid sharks, tunas
Body/Caudal Fin (BCF) Locomotion
Ostraciform
• Oscillation of the caudal fin
• Assisted with pectoral fins
• Not very efficient
 SWIMMING MODES OF MEDIAN PAIRED FIN (MPF) PROPULSION

Rajiform
• Thrust generation involves the passing of vertical undulations along the
pectorals that are very large, triangular shaped, and flexible.
• The fins may also be flapped up and down.
• likened to the flight of birds.
• Eg:- rays, skates and mantas
 SWIMMING MODES OF MEDIAN PAIRED FIN (MPF) PROPULSION

Diodontiform
• propulsion is achieved by passing undulations down broad pectoral fins.
• Up to two full wavelengths may be visible across the fins.
• Eg:- puffer fish
SWIMMING MODES OF MEDIAN PAIRED FIN (MPF) PROPULSION

Amiiform
• swimming is by undulations of a (usually long-based) dorsal fin, while the
body axis is in many cases held straight when swimming.
• Eg:- bowfin fish
 SWIMMING MODES OF MEDIAN PAIRED FIN (MPF) PROPULSION

Gymnotiform
• since propulsion is obtained by undulations of a long-based anal
fin.
• dorsal fin is usually absent
• Eg:- knife fish
 SWIMMING MODES OF MEDIAN PAIRED FIN (MPF) PROPULSION

Balistiform
• both the anal and dorsal fins undulate to generate the propulsion
forces
• their median fins are usually inclined relative to each other, while
the body is usually flat and compressed laterally.
• eg:- trigger fish
MOUTH STRUCTURE AND POSITION
 • Mouth structures
located at the ventral
part of the head
• Eating foods on the
bottom or suck food
available at the
bottom of the body

sturgeon gar
 • Mouth structures facing
downwards
• Eating foods on the bottom
or sucking food available at
the bottom of the body
• Example : Cyprinus carpio

common carp croaker

 • Mouth extruded in the middle
and front of the head facing the
anterior
• Eating foods in front of or to
collect food at rock and rock
crevices
• Example : oscar, tilapia

tilapia
oscar
 • Mouth facing upwards.
• Eating foods on the top of the
fish
• Example : Arowana, tarpon

tarpon arowana
CAN YOU IDENTIFY WHAT TYPE OF
FISH MOUTH ARE THESE?
 FISH SCALES
-BONY PLATES STRUCTURE THAT ARE LOCATED OUTSIDE THE FISH

FUNCTIONS?
protective layer give colours to the
as an external protection to the fish
fish

support the body assist in fish

structure of the fish movement

SQUAMATOLOGY: STUDY OF SCALES

• fish scales evolve differently in cartilaginous and bony fish
• in some fish, scales are modified becoming hard spines, exoskeleton and bony
plates
• some fish does not have scales like catfish.
• there are FIVE types of scales

cycloid
placoid ctenoid

ganoid cosmoid
IDENTIFY WHICH TYPE OF SCALES
THESE SPECIES HAVE

• Tilapia
• Catfish
• Grouper
• Sea bass