Hagfishes

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Distinguishing Features: No paired fins, no scales, exposed gill slits, marine

Skeleton: cartilaginous skull, no vertebrae, no jaws

Feeding: suction by round, muscular mouth with teeth

Reproduction: oviparous

Significance:  predators of dead or dying fishes and bottom invertebrates

Lampreys

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Distinguishing Features: Two dorsal fins only, no scales, exposed gill slits, fresh water or anadromous

Skeleton: Cartilaginous skull, no vertebrae, no jaws

Feeding: suction by round, muscular mouth with teeth

Reproduction: oviparous

Significance: suckers of fish blood or predators of bottom invertebrates

Rays, Skates

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Distinguishing Features: Paired fins, placoid scales, pectoral fins greatly expanded, five ventral gill slits,mostly marine

Skeleton: cartilaginous

Feeding: grinding plates to feed on bottom animals or gill rakers to filter plankton

Reproduction: oviparous, viviparous

Significance: predators of bottom animals or filter feeders

Sharks

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Distinguishing Features: paired fins, placoid scales, 5-7 exposed and lateral gill slits, mostly marine

Skeleton: cartilaginous

Feeding: teeth in jaws to capture prey or gill rakers to filter plankton

Reproduction: oviparous, ovoviviparous, viviparous

Significance: predators or filter feeders

Ratfishes

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Distinguishing Features: paired fins, placoid scales, one pair of gill slits covered by flap of tissue, deep water

Skeleton: cartilaginous

Feeding: grinding plates to feed on bottom invertebrates

Reproduction: oviparous

Significance: predators of bottom invertebrates

anna brabston

Coelacanths

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Distinguishing features: paired fins, large scales, gills covered by operculum

Skeleton: bony Feeding: teeth in jaws capture prey Reproduction: ovoviparous

Significance: predator

Bony Fishes

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Distinguishing features: paired fins, cycloid or ctenoid scales [absent in some], gills covered by operculum, marine and fresh water

Skeleton: bony

Feeding: teeth in jaws prey or graze or gill rakers to filter plankton

Reproduction: ovious, ovoviviparous, viviparous Significance: predators, grazers, or filter feeders