Bony Fishes

Class - Osteichthyes
Scientific Classification-
Class Osteichthyes
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.
Scientific Classification-
Class Osteichthyes
Osteichthyes includes the largest number of
living species of all scientific classes of
vertebrates, more than 28,000 species.

Osteichthyes account for about 96% of all

fish species. Fishes not included in the
Osteichthyes are the Chondrichthyes
(sharks and their relatives), the Myxini
(hagfishes), and the Cephalaspidomorphi
(lampreys).
Subclasses

Living Osteichthyes are divided into three

subclasses: Dipnoi, Crossopterygii, and
Actinopterygii.
The subclass Dipnoi (lungfishes) is characterized by
an upper jaw fused to the braincase, fused teeth, and
the presence of an air-breathing organ that opens to
the esophagus. A lungfish's caudal fin is continuous
with its dorsal and anal fins. Its pelvic and pectoral
fins are long and tubular.
Subclasses- Crossopteryggii
The subclass Crossopterygii (coelacanths) is
characterized by a type of primitive scale
called a cosmoid scale, two dorsal fins, and
fleshy paired fins that contain skeletal
elements.
Scientists used to think that this entire
subclass of fishes was extinct. Then in 1938, a
living coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae) was
discovered off the coast of Southeast Africa.
Several specimens have since been collected.
Class Actinopterygii

The subclass Actinopterygii includes all other

living bony fishes. Actinopterygians are
characterized by fins that are supported by bony
elements called rays.
Orders and Families

All orders of bony fishes end in the suffix

"iformes".
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".
Genera and Species

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.
Fossil Record

Primitive fishes date back to the Cambrian

period, about 550 million years ago. 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.
Fossil Record
◦ 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.
◦ Many species of fish that lived during the
Devonian are now extinct.
Fossil Records
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.
The most recently evolved orders of bony fishes
include the Pleuronectiformes (flatfishes) and
Tetraodontiformes (triggerfishes, pufferfishes,
and molas).
Habitat & Distribution

 Bony fishes inhabit almost every body of water.

They are found in tropical, temperate, and polar seas
as well as virtually all fresh water environments.
 Some species of bony fishes live as deep as 11 km
(6.8 mi.) in the deep sea. Other species inhabit lakes
as high as 5 km (3.1 mi.) above sea level.
 About 58% of all species of bony fishes (more than
13,000 species) live in marine environments.
Although only 0.01% of the earth's water is fresh
water, freshwater fishes make up about 42% of fish
species (more than 9,000 species).
Habitat

Bony fishes live in fresh water, sea water, and

brackish (a combination of fresh water and salt
water) environments.
The salinity of sea water is about 35 ppt (parts
per thousand). Some species can tolerate higher-
salinity environments. Some species of gobies
can tolerate salinity levels as high as 60 ppt.
Habitat
Fishes live in virtually all aquatic habitats.
Different species of fish are adapted for different
habitats: rocky shores, coral reefs, kelp forests,
rivers and streams, lakes and ponds, under sea
ice, the deep sea, and other environments of
fresh, salt, and brackish water.
Habitat
Some fish are pelagic: they live in the open
ocean. For example, tunas (several species in
the family Scombridae, subfamily Thunninae)
are pelagic fishes.
Some species, such as the flatfishes (order
Pleuronectiformes) are adapted for living along
the bottom. Certain fishes, such as gobies
(family Gobiidae) even burrow into the
substrate or bury themselves in sand.
Ocean sunfish (family Molidae) are most often
spotted at the ocean's surface.
Habitat
Some lungfishes "hibernate" throughout a
summer drought season, buried under the mud
of a dried-up pond.
Several fish species live in freshwater habitats in
the darkness of caves.
Habitat
 Depending on the species, bony fishes can live at
various temperatures. Some live at extreme
temperatures. Some desert pupfish (Cyprinodon
macularius) live in California hot springs that reach
temperatures greater than 45°C (113°F).
 At the opposite extreme, some species of bony fishes
can survive freezing temperatures of the Arctic and
Antarctic. Certain glycoprotein molecules present in
the blood of these specially-adapted fishes lower the
freezing point of the blood. The arctic cod
(Boreogadus saida) can survive temperatures as low
as -2°C (28°F).
Habitat
In general, fishes rely on oxygen dissolved in
water for respiration.
Some species of bony fishes require large
amounts of dissolved oxygen. The brown trout
(Salmo trutta) requires up to 11 mg of dissolved
oxygen per liter (11 ppm, or parts per million).
Misgurnus fossillis, a type of loach, can survive
in water with an oxygen concentration as low as
0.5 mg per liter (0.5 ppm).
Habitat
Mudskippers (family Periophthalmidae) can
carry a small amount of water in their gill
cavities. They commonly spend time on land,
returning to mud holes when their water supply
begins to evaporate.
African lungfishes (subclass Dipnoi) gulp air
into a "lung" for respiration. In fact, these fishes
must have access to the water's surface or they
will drown.
Size

Thousands of species of bony fishes are

less than a few centimeters long as adults.
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.).
Size
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. A large sunfish
can reach 3.3 m (10.8 ft.) and 2,300 kg
(5,071 lb.).
Size
Many sturgeons (family Acipenseridae) grow
very large. The largest is the beluga sturgeon
(Huso huso), which inhabits the Caspian,
Black, and Adriatic Seas and can reach 5 m
(16.4 ft.) and 2,000 kg (4,409 lb.).
Black marlin (Makaira indica) reach 4.7 m
(15.4 ft.) and 750 kg (1,653 lb.).
The European wels catfish (Silurus glanis)
reaches 5 m (16.4 ft.) and about 300 kg (661
lb.).
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).
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. Butterflyfishes (family
Chaetodontidae) are an example of bony
fishes with a laterally compressed body
shape.
Body shape
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 anelongated shape.
Coloration

 Most fish species have pigmentation. Pigment is

mostly contained in cells called chromatophores.
Most fishes can contract and expand their
chromatophores to change colors.
 Reflective cells called iridocytes can change color
rapidly.
 Because the different wavelengths of light are
absorbed at various depths, fishes may appear a
different color underwater than at the surface.
 Some fish, such as the ghost glass catfish
(Kryptopterus bicirrhis), lack pigmentation.
coloration
Some fish bioluminate (emit light).Certain
pigments (called luciferins) emit light when
oxidized.
Some fish produce light in luminescent organs
or in cells called photophores. In some fish, it is
light-producing bacteria that live in or on the
fish that actually produce the light.
Depending on species, bioluminescence may
attract mates, deter or confuse predators, attract
prey, or act as "headlights" to help a fish see in
the dark.
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.
fins
The spiny fin rays of some species are
associated with venom glands. Fishes in the
family Scorpaenidae include the stonefish
(Synanceja spp.), the lionfish (Pterois spp.), and
the scorpionfish (Scorpaena spp.) - some of the
most venomous fishes in the world. Glands in
the dorsal, anal, and pelvic spines produce
venom that is intensely painful and occasionally
fatal to humans.
fins
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. In some fishes, pectoral fins are adapted
for other functions.
Paired pelvic fins add stability, and some fishes
use them for slowing. In the clingfishes (family
Gobiesocidae), the pelvic fins are adapted as a
sucking appendage, which helps a fish hold on
to stationary objects on the ocean bottom.
fins
 The dorsal fin may be a single fin or separated into
several fins. In most bony fishes, the dorsal fin is used
for sudden direction changes and acts as a "keel",
keeping the fish stable in the water. In some fishes,
the dorsal fin is adapted for other functions.

 Thecaudal fin, or tail, is responsible for propulsion in

most bony fishes. Caudal fins come in many shapes.
Many continuously swimming fishes have forked
caudal fins. Fishes with lunate caudal fins, such as
tunas, tend to be fast swimmers that can maintain
rapid speed for long durations.
fins
The anal fin adds stability. In some fishes,
the anal fin is adapted for other functions.

Some species of bony fishes have reduced

or absent fins. For example, morays
(family Muraenidae) lack pectoral fins
and pelvic fins. Several species lack an
anal fin.
Head

 Eye size and position vary depending on the habitat and

behavior of the species.
 In most species, the gills are protected by a flexible plate
called an operculum. Most bony fishes have a single pair
of gill openings. Some bony fishes such as eels (family
Anguillidae) have a pair of gill holes or pores that aren't
covered by an operculum.
 The nostrils of most bony fishes have no connection with
the mouth or gills. In some bony fishes (such as eels), the
nostrils' incurrent and excurrent openings are widely
separated.
 Mouth shape and size are good indications of bony fish's
feeding habits.
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.
scales
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 of dentin). The upper surface is enamel.
Gars (family Lepisosteidae), bichirs, and reedfishes
(family Polypteridae) have ganoid scales. They are
similar to cosmoid scales, but a layer of ganoin (a
hard, enamel-like substance) lies over the cosmine
layer and under the enamel. Ganoid scales are
diamond-shaped, shiny, and hard.
scales
 Most bony fishes have cycloid or ctenoid scales.
Both cycloid and ctenoid scales consist of an outer
layer of calcium and an inner layer of connective
tissue.
 Cycloid scales overlap from head to tail, an
arrangement that helps reduce drag as a fish swims.
 Cycloid scales are circular and smooth. They are
most common on fishes with soft fin rays.
 Ctenoid scales have a characteristic toothed edge.
They are most common on fishes with spiny fin rays.
 As a fish grows, cycloid and ctenoid scales add
concentric layers.
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.
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.
◦ 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 of smell to locate prey.
◦ Young discus (Symphysodon discus) feed on the parent
fish's mucus.
Skeletal System

The skeleton of bony fishes is made of bone and

cartilage. The vertebral column, cranium, jaw,
ribs, and intramuscular bones make up a bony
fish's skeleton.
The skeleton of a bony fish gives structure,
provides protection, assists in leverage, and
(along with the spleen and the kidney) is a site
of red blood cell production.
Muscular System

The muscles of the tail and trunk consist

of a series of muscle blocks called
myotomes.
 The myotomes usually resemble a
sideways letter "W". A connective tissue
called myosepta separates the myotomes.
 A horizontal septum separates the
myotomes into dorsal (top) myotomes and
ventral (bottom) myotomes.
Nervous System

The nervous system of fishes is poorly

developed compared to that of other
vertebrates.
A bony fish's brain is divided into three
sections: the forebrain, the midbrain, and
the hindbrain.
The forebrain is responsible for the bony
fish's ability to smell. Bony fishes that have
an especially good sense of smell, such as
eels, have an enlarged forebrain.
Nervous system
The midbrain processes vision, learning,
and motor responses. Blind bony fishes,
such as blind cavefishes in the family
Amblyopsidae, have a reduced midbrain.

The hindbrain (medulla oblongata and

cerebellum) coordinates movement, muscle
tone, and balance. Fast-swimming bony
fishes usually have an enlarged hindbrain.
Cardiovasular System

A bony fish's heart has two chambers: an

atrium and a ventricle.
The venous side of the heart is preceded
by an enlarged chamber called the sinus
venosus.
The arterial side of the heart is followed
by a thickened muscular cavity called the
bulbus arteriosus.
Digestive System

 The esophagus in bony fishes is short and

expandable so that large objects can be swallowed.
The esophagus walls are layered with muscle.
 Most species of bony fishes have a stomach.
Usually the stomach is a bent muscular tube in a
"U" or "V" shape. Gastric glands release substances
that break down food to prepare it for digestion.
 At the end of the stomach, many bony fishes have
blind sacs called pyloric caeca. The pyloric caeca
are an adaptation for increasing the gut area; they
digest food.
Swim Bladder

Many species of bony fishes have a gas-filled

bladder called a swim bladder.
Apparently the swim bladder originally
developed in fish as an organ of respiration,
as evidenced by the "lung" of the lungfishes.
In modern bony fishes that possess a swim
bladder, the organ serves principally in
maintaining neutral buoyancy.
In some fishes the swim bladder has adapted
to function as a sound amplifier.
Acoustic Senses

 The ears of a bony fish function in equilibrium, detecting

acceleration, and hearing.There are no external openings
to the ears.
 Sound waves travel through soft tissue to the ears. (A
fish's soft body tissue has about the same acoustic
density as water).
 In some bony fish species, the swim bladder is
associated with adaptations for enhanced sound
reception at higher frequencies. In some, the swim
bladder lies against the ear and acts as an amplifier to
enhance sound detection. In other species, such as
goldfish (Carassius auratus), a series of small bones
connects the swim bladder to the ear.
Eyesight

Bony fishes have a basic vertebrate eye, with

various structural adaptations. A bony fish's eye
includes rods and cones.
Bony fishes, especially those that live in
shallow-water habitats, probably have color
vision. Certain visual cells are specialized to
particular wavelengths and intensities.
The eyesight in some species of bony fishes
may be well developed. Goldfish (Carassius
auratus) have excellent visual acuity up to 4.8
m (16 ft.) away.
Taste

Bony fishes have taste buds in their

mouths. Some species have taste buds
along the head and ventral side of the body.
Taste perception hasn't been extensively
studied in bony fishes. Some species can
detect some sensations, such as salty, sweet,
bitter, and acid stimuli.
Taste may be responsible for the final
acceptance or rejection of prey items.
Smell

Olfactory cells in the nasal sac detect tiny

amounts of chemicals in solution.
In general, the sense of smell is well developed
in fishes. The nasal areas and extent of the sense
of smell vary among species.
Electroreception

 Some bony fishes in the families Electrophoridae,

Gymnotidae, and Mormyridae produce a low-
voltage electric current that sets up a field around
the fish.
 Tiny skin organs on the fish detect disruptions in the
electric field that are caused by prey or inanimate
objects. Electric organs are made up of cells called
electrocytes that have evolved from muscle cells.
Electrocytes typically are thin and stacked on top of
one another.
 Electroreception is an adaptation for detecting prey
and for navigation in murky water.
Fertilization and Embryonic Development

Some species release unfertilized eggs and

sperm. Young develop from eggs that are
fertilized in the water.

Some species have internal fertilization;

these species mate. For species with internal
fertilization, there is great variation in the
development stage at which offspring are
released: fertilized eggs, larvae, juvenile fish,
or even sexually mature adults.
development
Oviparous bony fishes release eggs, and the
developing embryo is nourished by a yolk
sac.

Inovoviviparous fishes, one parent (usually

female) retains the fertilized eggs in her body,
and the developing embryo is nourished by a
yolk sac formed prior to fertilization. There is
no nutrient connection between the parent
and the developing embryos.
development
In viviparous fishes, the female retains the
fertilized eggs in her ovary or uterus, and
the developing embryo is nourished by
connection with the mother.