[image]

1) fins comprised only of soft rays

2) adipose fin

3) pelvic fins abdominal with axillary process

4) gill membranes extending far anteriorly, not fused with isthmus

5) scales small, cycloid

6) toothed maxilla forming part of gape 

Normally has spots typical salmon coloration* 

[image]

(pike) 

1) body elongate

2) mouth large, snout produced, resembling a duck’s bill

3) pala-ne, dentary, and vomer with canine teeth

4) single dorsal fin and anal fin located far posteriorly

5) toothless maxilla included in gape

6) trunk lateral-line canal complete

  7) adipose fin absent

(Bristlemouths) 

1) body elongate

2) adipose fin usually absent

3) photophores usually present on isthmus

4) postorbital light organ absent

5) gill rakers well developed[image]

6) teeth in upper jaw usually short, bristlelike

(Marine Hatchetfishes) 

[image]

1) body deep, laterally compressed in most

2) mouth oblique to nearly vertical

3) eyes large, dorsally directed in some

4) three to seven photophores on branchiostegal membranes

5) ventral photophores, generally in clusters

6) gill rakers well developed

Stomiidae 

(Barbeled Dragonfishes) 

1) body somewhat to greatly elongate

2) mouth large, often with fang-like teeth

3) mental barbel present in most species

[image] 

(Lizardfishes) 

[image]

1) body elongate

2) caudal fin forked

3) dorsal fin small, near midbody

4) adipose fin usually present

5) pelvic fins abdominal

6) mouth large, supramaxilla small or absent 

(Lanternfishes)

[image]

1) head and body compressed

2) mouth terminal, typically large, extending well past posterior margin of orbit

3) adipose fin present, supported by a cartilaginous plate

4) anal fin origin under or just behind dorsal-fin base or more posteriorly

5) pelvic fin abdominal, with eight rays

6) scales typically cycloid, deciduous, often lost during capture

7) small photophores typically on head and body

8) Large eyes 

Grenadiers or rattails 

[image]

1) body elongate, greatly tapering posteriorly

2) second dorsal fin and anal fin confluent with tail, caudal fin absent, tail usually ending in a point

3) chin barbel usually present

4) anal-fin rays generally longer than rays in second dorsal fin

5) some species with a light organ on abdominal midline 

(Cods) 

[image]

1) three dorsal fins in most species

2) two anal fins in most species

3) teeth present on vomer

4) small chin barbel in most species 

Beryciformes

Fangtooths

[image]

1) mouth large, upper and lower jaws with numerous fang-like teeth

2) eyes small

3) spines absent from all fins

4) pelvic fins with seven segmented rays

5) anal fin short and posteriorly positioned

[image]

Squirrelfish 

1) pelvic fins with strong spine

2) dorsal fins separated by deep notch

3) caudal fin forked

4) anal fin with four spines

5) scales large and strongly ctenoid

6) superficial bones of head often serrate or spinous

7) eyes large 

[image]

1) two widely separated dorsal fins, first with four spines

2) pelvic fins inserted well behind pectoral fins

3) scales typically ctenoid 

  4) mouth small, triangular with small or absent teeth

5) gill rakers long

6) stomach muscular

(New World silversides)[image]

1) two widely separated dorsal fins, the first with two to nine flexible spines

2) mouth small and terminal

3) premaxillary protrusible

4) pectoral fins inserted high on body

5) pelvic fins usually abdominal

6) broad, silvery lateral stripe present in life 

Needlefishes

1) mouth large, both upper and lower jaws elongate

2) jaws with numerous needlelike teeth

3) body long and slender

4) scales small, cycloid

5) trunk lateral-line canal low on body

6) nostrils located in depression anterior to eyes 

[image]

Halfbeak

[image]

1) lower jaw elongate, upper jaw short

2) mouth small

  3) premaxillae pointed anteriorly 

  4) pectoral fins and pelvic fins short 

  5) trunk lateral-line canal low on body

6) nostrils located in depression anterior to eyes 

Flyingfishes

1) pectoral fins large and winglike

2) pelvic fins large in some species

3) mouth small, upper and lower jaws short

4) trunk lateral-line canal low on body

6) scales relatively large and cycloid

7) lower lobe of caudal fin longer than upper lobe

[image] 

(Pupfishes)

[image]

1) dorsal-fin origin anterior to anal-fin origin

2) body moderately deep

3) teeth usually tricuspid (3 cones)

4) all anal-fin rays branched 

Livebearers

[image]

1) pectoral fins positioned high on body

2) pelvic fins inserted relatively far anteriorly

3) head flagened, scaled dorsally

4) Head flattened 

(Sticklebacks)

[image]

1) body typically elongate, with long, narrow caudal peduncle

2) dorsal fin comprises 2–16 well-developed isolated spines followed by a soft  dorsal with 6–14 rays

3) pelvic fin (when present) with one spine and two of rays 4) mouth small, oblique

Syngnathiiformes

 pipefishes and relatives

Pipefishes and seahorses 

[image]

  1) body elongate, encased in bony rings

2) dorsal-fin spines absent

3) soft dorsal fin variable in size, with 15– 60

4) anal fin small to minute

5) pelvic fins absent

6) caudal fin present or absent

7) gill openings restricted

Scorpaeniformes

Scorpionfishes 

[image]

1) head usually with bony ridges and/or spines

2) body usually somewhat laterally compressed

3) one or two opercular spines and three to five preopercular spines

4) dorsal fin usually single, with 11– 17 spines and 8– 17 soft rays

5) anal fin usually with three spines and five soft rays

(Sea Robins) 

[image]

1) head large and bony

2) body moderately elongate, tapering posteriorly

3) Tip of snout usually with paired rostral projections

4) two separate dorsal fins

5) pectoral fins large, winglike, with lower three rays enlarged and free

6) trunk lateral-line canal often prominent 

Groupers and soapfishes 

[image]

1) body laterally compressed

2) dorsal fins continuous

3) three opercular spines

Seabasses and Anthiines 

[image]

1) opercle with three spines

2) scales ctenoid

3) dorsal fin with seven to ten spines

4) anal fin with three spines 

5) posterior tip of maxilla exposed, not covered by infraorbitals

Sunfishes 

[image]

1) body laterally compressed and deep in many species

  2) dorsal fin continuous, with 5–13 spines

3) anal fin with three to five spines

Bigeyes 

1) body compressed

2) eyes extremely large

3) mouth large, upturned, lower jaw generally protruding beyond upper

4) dorsal fin continuous

5) pelvic fins large

[image]

Cardinal Fishes 

[image]

1) two separate dorsal fins in nearly all species

2) anal fin with two spines, typically positioned opposite second dorsal fin

3) caudal peduncle long

4) mouth terminal, large, oblique

5) eyes large

Snappers 

[image]

1) dorsal fin continuous or with shallow notch

2) mouth terminal, large, usually with conspicuous canine teeth

3) maxilla covered by premaxilla and infraorbital bones when mouth closed

4) suborbital area between eye and mouth without scales 5) preopercle typically finely serrate 

Mojarras 

[image]

1) body compressed

2) mouth terminal, highly protrusible, with long premaxillary ascending processes

3) head mostly covered with scales

4) dorsal fin conWnuous

5) dorsal and anal fins partially covered with sheath of scales

6) caudal fin deeply forked

7) jaws with very small teeth (appearing toothless) 

Grunts 

[image]

[image]

1) mouth usually small, teeth (on jaws) generally small, pointed, and numerous

2) mandibular lateral-line pores (on lower jaw) enlarged

3) scales ctenoid, present in suborbital area

4) margin of preopercle serrate 

5) 2 dorsal, notch, 1st with spines and 2nd with rays 

Drums 

[image]

1) soft-ray portion of dorsal fin much longer than soft-ray portion of anal fin

2) spinous and softray portions of dorsal fin usually separated by notch

3) anal fin with two (rarely one) spines

4) trunk lateral-line canal well developed, extending to end of caudal fin

5) cephalic lateral-line canals large and conspicuous, especially those on the snout and lower jaw 

Goatfishes 

[image]

1) two long movable barbels on chin, derived from modified branchiostegal rays

2) median groove on ventral side of head to accommodate barbels

3) dorsal fins well separated

4) anal fin with one or two spines

5) caudal fin forked 

Butterflyfishes

[image]

1) body deep, strongly compressed

2) mouth small, upper jaw protrusible

3) dorsal fin usually continuous

4) scaly axillary process at base of pelvic-fin spine

5) eye generally obscured by dark coloraWon on head 

Angelfishes 

[image]

1) body strongly compressed, disc-like

2) preopercle with one or more strong spines

3) dorsal fin continuous

4) head relatively small, snout short

5) mouth extremely small, terminal

6) jaw teeth usually arranged in brush-like bands 

Sphyraenidae

Barracudas 

[image]

1) body elongate

2) mouth large, with protruding lower jaw and strong fang-like teeth

  3) two widely separated dorsal fins, second positioned over similar, short-based anal fin

4) trunk lateral-line canal well developed 

Porgies 

[image]

1) body laterally compressed

2) dorsal fin continuous

3) maxilla covered by premaxilla and infraorbital bones when mouth closed 

4) suborbital area between eye and mouth without scales 5) mouth relatively small, rarely reaching posteriorly to midline of eye

6) jaw teeth either conical, flat, or round

Jacks 

[image]

1) anal fin with three spines, first two detached from fin

2) two dorsal fins, the second with long base

3) body compressed in most species and very deep in some 4) caudal peduncle slender, sometimes with row of lateral scutes

5) caudal fin forked

6) scales small, cycloid in most species, with some species naked 

Remoras 

1) flat sucking disc on head

2) body elongate, head depressed

3) dorsal and anal fins with long bases, lacking spines 

[image]

Wrasses 

[image]

1) body usually laterally compressed and somewhat elongate

2) upper jaw protrusible in most species (not in parrolishes and cales)

3) dorsal fin long, continuous

4) scales cycloid

5) trunk lateral-line canal complete or interrupted

6) many species very colorful 

Damselfishes

[image][image]

1) body compressed and usually deep

2) mouth small

3) dorsal fin continuous

4) trunk lateral-line canal incomplete or discontinuous

5) scales cteniod

6) anal fin usually with two spines

7) eye diameter usually greater than snout length

8) many species very colorful 

Surfperches 

[image]

1) body laterally compressed

2) dorsal fin continuous

3) scales cycloid

4) caudal fin forked 

Blenniidae 

Combtooth Blennies 

[image]

1) body somewhat elongate and laterally compressed

2) forehead bluntly rounded in most species

3) upper jaw not protrusible

4) jaws with comblike teeth, fixed or freely movable

5) scales absent

6) segmented rays unbranched in all fins except caudal

7) dorsal fin continuous, with more soft rays than spines 

Clinid Blennies 

1) body somewhat elongate and laterally compressed

2) scales cycloid with radii in all fields

3) dorsal fin with more spines than rays 

[image]

Tube Blennies 

1) body somewhat elongate

2) scales absent

3) trunk lateral-line canal absent

4) median fin spines not ossified distally

5) cranial bones oden with spines, pits, or ridges

6) supraorbital and nasal cirri present in most species 

[image]

Clingfish

1) head and body depressed, tadpole shaped

2) thoracic sucking disk formed by modified pelvic fins

3) single dorsal fin without spines

4) anal fin without spines

5) head and body scaleless

[image]

Gobies 

1) pelvic fins usually united medially, forming rounded disc 2) first dorsal fin usually with two to eight spines, separate from sod dorsal fin

3) caudal fin usually broad and rounded

4) base of anal and second dorsal fins longer than caudal peduncle

[image]

Surgeonfishes 

[image]

1) body deeply compressed

2) one or more spines on lateral caudal peduncle

3) mouth small with closely set, incisor-like teeth in both jaws

4) spinous and sod dorsal fins conEnuous 5) two (Nasinae) or three (Acanthurinae) anal-fin spines

Swordfish

1) elongate bill derived from premaxillae

2) upper jaw nonprotrusible

3) mouth inferior

4) two anal fins

5) origin of dorsal fin over operculum

6) caudal peduncle with one or two keels

7) dorsal fins lacking true spines

[image]

Mackerels and tunas

1) body typically fusiform

2) caudal peduncle slender, with lateral keels

3) two dorsal fins that fold into grooves on dorsal surface 4) series of finlets posterior to second dorsal and anal fins 5) pectoral fins usually posiEoned high on body

6) pelvic fins thoracic 

[image]

Greenlings 

1) body relatively elongate

2) head bearing cirri, but no spines on cranial bones

3) one or mulJple trunk lateralline canals

4) pelvic fins with one spine and five sog rays

5) dorsal fin long, usually with notch

6) posterior nostril smaller than anterior nostril or sometimes absent 

[image]

Sculpins

1) body ogen naked, some with patches or rows of scales 2) eye large, dorsally positioned

3) trunk lateral-line canal single

4) pelvic fins with one spine and usually fewer than five sog rays

5) anal fin without spines 

[image]

Eelpouts 

1) body elongate

2) dorsal and anal fins continuous with caudal fin

3) pelvic fins jugular or absent 

4) body naked or with small, embedded scales

5) dorsal and anal fins without spines 

[image]

Frogfishes

[image]

1) body somewhat laterally compressed compared to other lophiiforms

2) body scaleless or with small denticles, skin loose

  3) base of pectoral fins elongate and leg-like

4) gill openings small and pore-like 

Ceratiodei

deep-sea anglerfishes

[image]

1) body globiform in most species

2) mouth huge, ogen with long, fang-like teeth

3) scales absent, but some species with small to large dermal spines or plates

4) pelvic fins absent

5) females with illicium (absent in males), usually with bioluminescent bacteria in esca

Molas 

[image]

1) body laterally compressed

2) jaws with fused, beaklike teeth

3) dorsal and anal fins lacking spines, placed far posteriorly on body

4) caudal fin absent

porcupine fishes 

[image]

1) body wide, globose, inflatable via gulping water into stomach

2) body covered with welldeveloped, sharp spines

3) premaxillae and dentaries fused at midline with two fused teeth in beak-like jaws

4) pelvic fins absent

5) caudal fin rounded 

[image]

Puffers 

1) body inflatable via gulping water into stomach

2) skin naked or with prickles on the belly in some species 3) four fused teeth in jaws (two upper, two lower)

4) premaxillaries and dentaries not fused medially

5) dorsal and anal fins located far posteriorly on body

6) pelvic fins absent 

Ostraciidae

Boxfishes 

[image]

1) body encased in bony carapace closed behind anal fin

2) pelvic fin and girdle absent

3) dorsal and anal fins lacking spines and located far posteriorly on body

4) upper jaw not protrusible

Filefishes

1) body compressed

2) typically two dorsal-fin spines (second small or sometimes absent)

3) soft dorsal-, anal-, and pectoral-fin rays unbranched

4) scales small, body prickly or furry to the touch

5) mouth small, jaws with tiny teeth

6) gill slit small, anterior to pectoral-fin base

7) pelvic fins and spines rudimentary or absent 

[image]

Balistidae

Triggerfishes

1) body compressed

2) dorsal fin with three spines (third ogen minute)

3) all sog fins with branched rays

4) scales platelike, in regular series

5) mouth small, jaws armed with crushing teeth

6) gill slit small, anterior to pectoralfin base

7) pelvic spine and fins rudimentary or absent 

[image]

Plectognaths

1) highly variable in body shape

  2) reduced skull

3) gill openings restricted and typically high on the body

4) scales usually modified as spines, shields, or plates.  

[image]

Tongue Soles 

[image]

1) eyes small, closely set, on leg side of body

2) margin of preopercle not evident externally, concealed by skin and scales

3) dorsal and anal fins continuous with caudal fin

4) body elongate, tapering posteriorly, covered with fine scales

5) pelvic fin of blind side located along ventral midline, someJmes linked to anal fin

6) pelvic fin and underlying bones on eyed side usually present

7) pectoral fins absent

8) mouth asymmetric 

American Soles 

1) eyes on right side of body

2) margin of preopercle usually concealed by skin or represented by naked superficial groove

3) dorsal and anal fins separate from caudal fin

4) right pelvic-fin and anal-fin membranes joined

5) body oval to rounded, covered with fine scales

6) trunk lateral-line canal straight

7) mouth small 

[image]

Paralichthyidae

Sand Flounders 

1) eyes usually on leg side of body

2) pelvic-fin bases the same length on both sides and usually symmetrically located

3) pectoral-fin rays branched

4) dorsal and anal fins separate from caudal fin

5) margin of preopercle free

[image]

Pleuronectidae       

 Righteye flounders

1) eyes usually on right side of body

2) dorsal-fin origin over eyes

3) pelvic fins symmetric

4) trunk lateral-line canal well developed on both sides of body

5) margin of preopercle free

6) pectoral fin on eyed side usually larger than on blind side

7) dorsal and anal fins separate from caudal fin 

[image]