Fish

=﻿Fish Information= Phylum Chordata
 * All Chordates exhibit the following four characteristics at some time in their life!
 * Notochord
 * Dorsal Nerve Cord
 * Pharyngeal Pouches
 * Postanal Tail

Subphylum: Vertebrata
 * Vertibrates belonging to phylum Chordata
 * Have a vertebral column protecting the dorsal nerve cord
 * bilateral symmetry
 * endoskeleton
 * efficient respiratory system
 * closed circulatory system
 * nervous system with complete brain and sense organs

Examples of Vertebrates
 * Fish
 * Jawless fish
 * cartilaginous fish
 * bony fish
 * Amphibians
 * salamanders
 * toads
 * frogs
 * Reptiles
 * turtles
 * crocodiles
 * lizards
 * snakes
 * Birds
 * Mammals

Fish Characteristics
 * Body Structure
 * Bony or cartilage skeleton
 * paired fins: used for swimming, steering
 * scales- thin bony plates
 * jaws: used for crushing and gnawing food
 * Body Function
 * Gills for breathing
 * two chambered heart
 * ectotherms (cold blooded)
 * swim blatter- air sac used to control depth in water
 * countershading- dark on dorsal side, light on ventral side; used for camouflage
 * lateral line- canals on side of body; used to pick up vibrations
 * Reproduction
 * External fertilization
 * spawning: females lay many eggs
 * External development in awuatic egg

Fish Classification
 * Class Agnatha
 * Jawless fish
 * example: lampreys
 * suck blood from other fish
 * skeletons made of cartilage
 * Class Chrondricthyes
 * jaws present
 * skeletons made of cartilage
 * example: sharks, skates, and rays
 * Class Osteicthyes
 * bony fish
 * example: perch, musky, tuna, catfish, bluegill, ect.
 * most numeroud species of all fish classes

Video Clip 1: River Catfish Released. Citation: [|http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/animals/fish-animals/bony-fish/river-catfish-ani.htm]

Article: http://www.todaysthv.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=136401&catid=2 Prompt: What types of diseases could trigger so many fish to die like this?