General Classification
Soft-rayed fish
 Dorsal fin is without hard spines
 Usually have only 1 dorsal fin
 Adipose fin: small, fatty fin near caudal fin
 Ex. Trout

General Classification
Spiny-rayed fish
 Hard, sometimes sharp spines in dorsal fin
 Ex. Yellow Perch

Pennsylvania Fish Species
160 Native to PA
 Study of fish biology:


Ichthyology
General Characteristics
Ectothermic: temperature of
surroundings affects internal temperature
and functions
What ONE factor determines
which species can survive in a
certain body of water?
TEMPERATURE!!!!!
3 Main Temperature Groups:
 Cold
water-< 70 degrees F
(TROUT)
 Cool water-- > 60 <80 degrees F
(Walleye, Muskellunge)
 Warm water-- > 80 degrees F
(Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass)
General Characteristics
 Water
temperature and dissolved
oxygen are related
 Higher water temperature, Lower DO
 Lower water temperature, Higher DO
Channel Catfish
Channel Cat
Northern Hogsucker
Northern Hogsucker
Muskellunge
MUSKIE
Brook Trout
Brook Trout
Brown Trout
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Rainbow Trout
Pumpkinseed
Sunfish
Pumpkinseed
Bluegill
Bluegill
Jeff Ziegler’s
$5,000 Blue Gill
1 out of 38 fish
released in
Lake Arthur!!!!
Black Crappie
Crappie
Largemouth Bass
Largemouth Bass
Yellow Perch
Yellow Perch
Paddlefish
Feeding Video
Paddlefish
Walleye
Walleye
Striped Bass (Temperate Bass Family)
Striped Bass
Carp
Carp

Spillway Linesville

Carp Spillway
Creek Chub
Creek Chub
Bluntnose Minnow
Bluntnose Minnow
American Eel
American Eel
Fish Adaptations: Scales
Hard, sometimes colorful, overlapping
plates
 Provides protection from predators and
disease/ infection

4 Types of Scales
1. Placoid: rectangular base, under the
skin, spines project to the surface of the
skin
 New scales are added, do not grow with
the fish
 Examples: sharks, skates, rays

Shark: Placoid Scales
Skate: Placoid Scales
Ray: Placoid Scales
4 Types of Scales
2. Ganoid: rhombus shape, connected by
peg and socket joints
 Do not grow with fish, new ones are
added
 Examples: Gar, Paddlefish, Sturgeon

Longnose Gar: Ganoid Scales
Garpike
Sturgeon: Ganoid Scales
Paddlefish: Ganoid Scales
4 Types of Scales
3. Ctenoid: overlapping, allow great
maneuverability as fish bends
 Grows with fish, found in spiny rayed fish

Ctenoid Scales
4 Types of Scales
4. Cycloid: same as ctenoid functions
 Smooth margin, soft-rayed fish
 Grows with fish

Cycloid Scales: Catfish
REVIEW
 Complete
back of note sheet
 Give different fish examples for
the top 2
2
minutes!!!! GO!!!