Taxonomy of fishes classification hierarchical grouping of organisms (used by Linnaeus,1758) taxonomy science of biological nomenclature (formal rules for use) systematics the study of relationships Taxonomic hierarchy: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Actinopterygii (formerly Osteichthyes) Order: Cypriniformes Family: Cyprinidae Genus: Cyprinus Species: carpio (common carp) additional standardized endings: Suborder: - oides Subfamily: - inae Tribe: - ini Taxonomic hierarchy: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Actinopterygii (formerly Osteichthyes) - Subclass Neopterygii - Infraclass Teleostei Order: Cypriniformes Family: Cyprinidae Genus: Cyprinus Species: carpio (common carp) Tools of taxonomy: morphometrics - measurements relative to length meristics - counts Tools of taxonomy: morphometrics - measurements relative to length meristics - counts anatomical traits - shape, presence/absence Tools of taxonomy: morphometrics - measurements relative to length meristics - counts anatomical traits - shape, presence/absence color patterns white crappie (Pomoxis annularis) black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) Tools of taxonomy: morphometrics - measurements relative to length meristics - counts anatomical traits - shape, presence/absence color patterns karyotypes – chromosome counts, shape, banding patterns biochemical methods Tools of taxonomy: physiological differences (e.g., temperature preferences) behavior steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Tools of taxonomy: physiological differences (e.g., temperature preferences) behavior steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) diet lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) Use of standardized descriptions: Round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1811). D1 VI (V-VII); D2 I + 14-16 (13-16); A 1 + 11-13 (11-14); P 18-19 (17-20). Scaled on the parietal region, nape, back (all), throat (all or most), abdomen, pectoral fin peduncles, and one quarter of the gill covers. Scales on the middle and anterior nape are cycloid. Head is as wide as or wider than deep; depth is 0.9-1.2 times the width. Head length 4.2-4.5 of total body length. Angle of the jaw below the anterior quarter of the eye. Lower jaw not prominent. Snout 1.1-1.4 times the orbit diameter. Upper lip narrows slightly to the rear. Usually 6, rarely 7, transverse suborbital series of pit organs. Ventral fins reach or almost reach the vent. Pelvic disk is 0.6-0.8 times the abdomen length. If present, the anterior membrane width is very shallow, with rounded, lateral lobes. Caudal peduncle depth is about two-thirds its length. Lacks a gas bladder and chemoreceptors. Use of standardized descriptions: Round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1811). placed in genus of nearest (known) related species Use of standardized descriptions: Round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1811). sources of species names: descriptive (melanostomus) discoverer, etc. (hubbsi) local language (namaycush) Use of standardized descriptions: Round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1811). Originally discovered and named by Pallas in 1811 - but name has since changed Use of standardized descriptions: Round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1811) D1 VI (V-VII); D2 I + 14-16 (13-16); A 1 + 11-13 (11-14); P 18-19 (17-20). D1 VI (V-VII); the anterior dorsal fin has 6 spines, ranging from 5-7 D2 I + 14-16 (13-16); the posterior dorsal fin has one spine and 14-16 soft rays, ranging from 13-16 A 1 + 11-13 (11-14); the anal fin has one spine, 11-13 soft rays, ranging from 11-14 P 18-19 (17-20). the pectoral fins have 18-19 soft rays, ranging from 17-20 Use of standardized descriptions: Round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1811). D1 VI (V-VII); D2 I + 14-16 (13-16); A 1 + 11-13 (11-14); P 18-19 (17-20). Scaled on the parietal region, nape, back (all), throat (all or most), abdomen, pectoral fin peduncles, and one quarter of the gill covers. Scales on the middle and anterior nape are cycloid. Head is as wide as or wider than deep; depth is 0.9-1.2 times the width. Head length 4.2-4.5 of total body length. Angle of the jaw below the anterior quarter of the eye. Lower jaw not prominent. Snout 1.1-1.4 times the orbit diameter. Upper lip narrows slightly to the rear. Usually 6, rarely 7, transverse suborbital series of pit organs. Ventral fins reach or almost reach the vent. Pelvic disk is 0.6-0.8 times the abdomen length. If present, the anterior membrane width is very shallow, with rounded, lateral lobes. Caudal peduncle depth is about two-thirds its length. Lacks a gas bladder and chemoreceptors. Authorship of scientific names International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature right of priority – you discover it, you name it species name will (almost) never change type specimen – archived original specimen type locality – location of first discovery nominal species – name of a species defined by type specimen nomen praeoccupatum – name already in use junior synonyms – name with later publication date than accepted name Authorship of scientific names right of priority type specimen type locality nominal species nomen praeoccupatum junior synonyms Authorship of scientific names Salmo Omisco Maycus - Walbaum 1792 (type locality Hudson Bay) Percopsis guttatus - Agassiz 1850 Salmoperca pellucida - Thompson 1853 Percopsis omiscomaycus (Walbaum) - Kendall 1911 _______________________ Percopsis: perch-like omiscomaycus: probably Algonquin name with root meaning “trout” Common names: trout-perch, silver chub, omisco Authorship of scientific names right of priority type specimen type locality nominal species nomen praeoccupatum junior synonyms Salmo gairdneri Richardson 1836 synonymous with Salmo mykiss Walbaum 1792 but it is really a Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus) - so it becomes Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum 1792) On Discovering a Butterfly I found it and named it, being versed in taxonomic Latin; thus became godfather to an insect and its first describer -- and I want no other fame. Wide open on its pin (though fast asleep), and safe from creeping relatives and rust, in the secluded stronghold where we keep type specimens it will transcend its dust. Dark pictures, thrones, the stones that pilgrims kiss, poems that take a thousand years to die but ape the immortality of this red label on a little butterfly. -Vladimir Nabokov Nomenclature (International Code of Zoological Nomenclature) use of Latin, Greek prononciation: ch = k (e.g., ichthyology) initial c = s (e.g., Cyprinidae) hybrids: Rutilus rutilus x Abramis brama genus and species always italicized Neogobius melanostomus genus, species with subspecies - species abbreviated N. melanostomus N. m. caspia subgenus usually in parentheses Dreissena (Pontodreissena) polymorpha Nomenclature (International Code of Zoological Nomenclature) problems with common names: Oncorhynchus – true salmon rainbow trout Chinook salmon Salmo – trout brown trout Atlantic salmon Salvelinus – char (or charr) lake trout brook trout Arctic char creek chub, longjaw chub, grey chub, Bermuda chub, etc. cisco…. What does this creature have to do with fish taxonomy??? Phylogenetic systematics (cladistics) non-arbitrary, informative classifications reflect evolutionary relationships – evolutionary hypotheses task is to identify monophyletic groups (clades) Phylogenetic systematics (cladistics) “task” of phylogeny is to determine whether characters shared among taxa are primitive (plesiomorphies – primitive character states) or derived (apomorphies – advanced character states) homologous – identical by ancestry or convergent – similar by convergent evolution Phylogenetic systematics (cladistics) monophyletic groups (clades) – members share common ancestor – all members have common derived character or synapomorphy cladogram Phylogenetic systematics (cladistics) avoid paraphyletic groups - monophyletic group that excludes some of the descendants Phylogenetic systematics (cladistics) avoid paraphyletic groups - monophyletic group that excludes some of the descendants or polyphyletic groups - consists of members from two monophyletic groups (e.g. flying animals; eel-like animals) Myxiniformes Petromyzontiformes Gnathostomata (hagfishes) (lampreys) (jawed fishes) Agnatha (jawless fishes) Agnatha is now paraphyletic Myxiniformes Petromyzontiformes Gnathostomata (hagfishes) (lampreys) (jawed fishes) Where do these fish belong, phylogenetically? Phylogenetic systematics (cladistics) Characteristics of the extant classes of fishes Character skeleton paired fins gill arches nostril(s) jaws fins with spines pectoral fins Primitive Advanced cartilaginous ossified absent (lamprey) present* absent present one, median paired absent present absent (trout) present (perches)* horizontal base low on vertical base high body (minnows) on body (basses)* pelvic fins far back on belly forward, attached to pectoral girdle tail heterocercal homocercal scales cycloid ctenoid mouth front of head up- or down-turned* * subsequently modified in some advanced fishes