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Fish Identification

Identification of fishes involves sampling and preserving specimens, recognizing species through anatomical study, and determining proper classification. Key steps include collecting undamaged samples from multiple localities, noting colors and patterns, and preserving in 10-15% formalin or 70% ethanol. Species are described based on gross features and compared to known groups, then placed in the taxonomic hierarchy. The scientific name follows binomial nomenclature. Identification also uses morphometric measurements, meristic counts of fins and scales, and examination of anatomical characteristics and color patterns.

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Mujahid Hussain
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304 views

Fish Identification

Identification of fishes involves sampling and preserving specimens, recognizing species through anatomical study, and determining proper classification. Key steps include collecting undamaged samples from multiple localities, noting colors and patterns, and preserving in 10-15% formalin or 70% ethanol. Species are described based on gross features and compared to known groups, then placed in the taxonomic hierarchy. The scientific name follows binomial nomenclature. Identification also uses morphometric measurements, meristic counts of fins and scales, and examination of anatomical characteristics and color patterns.

Uploaded by

Mujahid Hussain
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Identification of Fishes

Introduction

• Identification of fishes helps in understanding the significance of


ecological, physiological, behavioral adaptations and the phylogenetic
relationship of fish.
• The identification and classification of a species involve following
procedures:
• Sampling and preservation of fish
• Recognition and description of species
• Placement of fish and
• Choice of nomenclature
Sampling and Preservation of Fish

• The sample size should contain 20-30 specimens from different


localities.
• Undamaged specimens.
• Should be cleaned immediately.
• In fresh specimen colours pattern, spots, blotches should be
noted carefully on field notebook.
• Sample should be properly labeled and preserved in suitable
container and should never be allowed to dry.
Contd..

• The best preservative is 10-15% formalin.


• For long lasting storage , specimen after having been fixed
in formalin for 24-48hrs, should be washed and stored in a
solution of 45% isopropanol or 70% ethanol.
• Specimens left in preservative for long time loose skin
colours due to oxidation.
Recognition and Description of Species

• This includes study of gross anatomical, physiological and


morphological features so as to figure out what
relationship the collected sample to other known groups.
Placement of Fish

• The next step is the determination of specimen and to give


it a correct placement in the hierchial classification.
• The comparison is accomplished by mean of taxonomic
publications, keys, photographs and diagrammatic
representations.
• If the specimen fails to fit into the established keys, it
might represent a new species.
Choice of Nomenclature

• The scientific name of a species consists of two parts, a


genus name-first letter is always capitalized, and a species
name in which the first letter is never capitalized.
• This system of naming in taxonomy is
called………..Binomial system.
• The naming of new species is simple.
• The taxonomist chooses a name, Latinizes it, and
publishes the findings with illustrations and argument in
favor of his new findings.
Contd…

• A trinomial nomenclature is also used occasionally e.g., Linnaeus classified the


Caucasian human group as “Homo sapiens sapiens”. The third term in this case
is sub-species.
• If it represent author’s name e.g., Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton 1822), this means
that the species was first described by Hamilton in a publication issued in 1822.
• The standard units of hierarchy are species, genus, family, order, class and
phylum.
• Endings of –idea for families and -inae for sub-families are universal use.
• Berg (1940) uses a common system of endings of –oidae for super family, -oidei
for suborder and ioformes for order.
External Fish Anatomy
Taxonomic Methods

• Traditional taxonomic methods used for the identification


and classification of fish are:
• Morphometeric measurements and ratios.
• Meristic counts
• Anatomical characteristics and
• Colour patterns.
Morphometric Measurements
• Measurements are taken as a general rule, on the left side
of fish.
• Use good quality millimeter scale and read to nearest
0.1mm.
• Take each reading three time.
• Body length (total, forked and standard)
• Head length
• Snout length
Contd..

• Eye diameter
• Upper jaw length
• Lower jaw length
• Girth length
• Body depth
• Gape of mouth
• Height of dorsal fin
Contd…

• Dorsal fin base


• Pectoral fin length
• Pectoral fin base
• Anal fin length
• Anal fin base
• Length of caudal peduncle
Meristic Counts

• Any thing on a fish that can be counted such as, fin rays, spines, scale
rows, barbels, pyloric caecae, branchiostegal rays, lateral line pores.
• Fin Ray Count:
• The form and number of fin rays are often characteristic of the species
and are considerable importance and value in classification.
• The number of different types of rays in various is expressed by fin
formula.
• DII 2/3= Dorsal fin with two spines, two unbranched and three
branched soft rays.
Contd..

• D ¾= Dorsal fin with no spines, but with three unbranched and four
branched soft rays.
• P 12-14= Pectoral fin having 12 to 14 rays and without any spines.
• Scale Count:
• Scales of most fishes are basically of two types (cycloid and ctenoid).
• The number and arrangement are species specific.
• May be described by scale formula: LL 29-32; TR 6/8
Contd….

• Barbels:
• The number and lengths are important in catfishes.
• Number may vary from 1-4 pairs and are named according
to the position.
• Nasal arises from the region of nostrils, rostral from the
region of snout, maxillary from upper jaw and mandibular
from lower jaw.
Anatomical Characteristics

• Limited usefulness, are often very important to species.


• Structures includes gill rakers, branchiostegal rays, teeth,
phyrangeal bones, pyloric caecae, vertebrae, special
anatomical features etc.
Color Patterns

• Highly variable and may change with age, sex, emotional


display, time of day, habitat and so on.

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