Gourt > Science > Biology > Flora and Fauna > Animalia > Chordata > Fish (24)
A fish is a water-dwelling vertebrate with gills. Most are cold-blooded. There are over 29,000 species of fish, making them the most diverse group of vertebrates. Taxonomically, fish are a paraphyletic group whose exact relationships are much debated; a common division is into the jawless fish (class Agnatha, 75 species including lampreys and hagfish), the cartilaginous fish (class Chondrichthyes, 800 species including sharks and rays), with the remainder classed as bony fish (class Osteichthyes).
Fish come in different sizes, from the 16 m (51 ft) whale shark to a 8 mm (just over ¼ of an inch) long stout infantfish. Many types of aquatic animals named "fish", such as jellyfish and cuttlefish, are not true fish. Other sea dwelling creatures, like dolphins, while closely resembling fish in outer appearance, are actually mammals.
Although most fish are exclusively aquatic and cold-blooded, there are exceptions to both cases. Fish from a number of different groups have evolved the capacity to live out of the water for extended periods of time. Of these amphibious fish some such as the mudskipper can live and move about on land for up to several days. Also, certain species of fish maintain elevated body temperatures to varying degrees. Endothermic teleosts (bony fishes) are all in the suborder Scombroidei and include the billfishes, tunas, and one species of "primitive" mackerel (Gasterochisma melampus). All sharks in the family Lamnidae – shortfin mako, long fin mako, white, porbeagle, and salmon shark – are known to have the capacity for endothermy, and evidence suggests the trait exists in family Alopiidae (thresher sharks). The degree of endothermy varies from the billfish, which warm only their eyes and brain, to bluefin tuna and porbeagle sharks who maintain body temperatures elevated in excess of 20 °C above ambient water temperatures. See also gigantothermy. Endothermy, though metabolically costly, is thought to provide advantages such as increased contractile force of muscles, higher rates of central nervous system processing, and higher rates of digestion.
More on [ Fish ]
Fishing :: Outdoors
Fish and Aquaria :: Pets
Aquatic Ecology :: Ecology
Fisheries Science :: Aquatic Ecology
Anadromous and Stream Fish :: Fisheries Science
Ichthyology :: Chordates
Fish :: Vertebrates
Fish :: Conservation
Aquatic :: Invasive Species
Fish and Chips have arrived.... more like a whale...... fantastic.
RichieBurdon (Richie Burdon) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:27:41 -0000
Fish and Chips have arrived.... more like a whale...... fantastic.
aimee thought marmite was a fish! haha :L
zoeeeeeeX (Zoe Shanks) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:27:32 -0000
aimee thought marmite was a fish! haha :L
The african is trying to kill the fish with a knife...no big deal. I love my job
ianmelanson (Ian Melanson) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:27:20 -0000
The african is trying to kill the fish with a knife...no big deal. I love my job
Just had fish and chips for lunch. Off to fall asleep in long afternoon presentation. http://dial2do.com/1ybuom5l
phantomwhale (Ben Turner) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:27:17 -0000
Just had fish and chips for lunch. Off to fall asleep in long afternoon presentation. http://dial2do.com/1ybuom5l
and so you should be.. theres so much out there - small fish in a massive pond!! RT @MackFerret: Thanks Jayne, pretty chuffed about it!!!
JayneM_VI (Jayne Meldrum) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:27:13 -0000
and so you should be.. theres so much out there - small fish in a massive pond!! RT @MackFerret: Thanks Jayne, pretty chuffed about it!!!
take omega3 fish oil supplements? http://bit.ly/4LVr9A consider an alternative
bargainr (Jim Wang) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:26:58 -0000
take omega3 fish oil supplements? http://bit.ly/4LVr9A consider an alternative
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Checklist of Marine Fishes of Turkey - General taxonomical information on the marine fishes inhabiting Turkish seas: Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, and Mediterranean Sea.
Codes for Australian Aquatic Biota - Species coding system for aquatic organisms in the Australian region. Includes standard English names for Australian fishes.
Meta Description: [ Species Coding System for Marine and Freshwater Organisms in the Australian Region ]
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East Coast Fish-Watch Project - Designed to help people to learn more about South Africa's marine fishes and how to identify them.
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Fish Classification: The Classes of Fishes - List of all classes, orders, families, and genera of fish.
Fish FAQ - Fascinating facts about fish from U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Fisheries Science Center.
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Meta Description: [ A quick course in Ichthyology presented by Odyssey Expeditions Tropical Marine Biology Voyages ]
FishBase - Searchable global database containing information on 25,585 species (110,000 common names), 71,000 synonyms, 28,000 photos, and 21,000 references.
Gray's Reef Fish Guide - An illustrated guide to the fishes of Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Georgia, USA.
Hazardous Mediterranean Fish - An illustrated guide by the late Dr. Louis Zammit, M.D.
Key to the Fishes of Puget Sound - Identification key and guide to all families of fishes in Puget Sound (Washington, USA).
Marine Fish Fauna in Hong Kong Waters - The first fish Internet database in Hong Kong.
Native Fish Photo Gallery - Images of fish native to the north-central United States.
Neotropical Fish Image Gallery - Collections of photographs of fish species found in the tropical regions of the Americas.
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North American Freshwater Fish - Taxonomic checklist of all the freshwater fish of North America, including some range maps and images.
Orðabók 7 - English index to nine-language fish common name dictionary. Find out what a particular fish is called in up to nine other languages. Also includes scientific names.
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