Taxonomy of Finfish (1+2)

Procedure

Based on the exercise 5. separate the group of Clupeiformes using the character .

Spines absent in the fin. a single dorsal fin located above middle of body; pelvic fins in abdominal position; lateral line absent; color silvery.

Group the fishes based on the following character.

Clupeidae:

Ventral keel or scutes present

Tail deeply forked

Second maxilla exposed.

Frontal- parietal striae present.

Once the family Clupeidae are separated based on the following key identify various genera reported in your area.

Note the following key character used to identify these group of fishes.

Observe the predorsal scale pattern,

Branchiostegal rays

Count anal fin rays

Upper jaw notching pattern

Scutes postion- preanal, post anal and count their number.

Gill opening with fleshy out growth

Identify the species

Sardinella gibbossa Bleeker, 1849)

Sardinella lonqiceps Valenciennes, 1847

Escualosa thoracata (Valenciennes, 1847)

Tenualosa ilisha (Ham. Buch., 1822)

Ilisha megaloptera (Swainson, 1839)

Dussumieria acuta

Escualosa thoracata

Sardinella character:

Fronto parietal striae (on top of head) usually many, 8 to 19: lower portion of paddle shaped second supramaxilla equal. Gill rakers more than 40 in fishes over 5 cm standard length; predorsal scales paired and overlapping in midline

Escualosa characters:

2^nd supra maxilla enlarged and almost rectangular. Scutes present in before and behind of the pelvic fin. Body white to pale grey. Gill opening smoothly rounded; pelvic fin rays 7; body creamy white

thoracata characters

Diffuse silvery present on middle of the body caudal fin end point black shadow. Pelvic fin 7 rays.

Dussumieria characters

Belly rounded without scutes. Two supra maxilla present . Pelvic fin under dorsal fin base caudal fin deep half black.

acuta characters

12-15 branchio-stegal rays present. The edge of the scales contains striae anal rays 14-18 size 22 cm.

Tenualosa character:

Fronto-parietal striae weakly developed, usually hidden by skin; gill rakers on inner arches straight; scales unperforated

ilisha character:

Several spots present on the flank.

Nematalosa character:

Last dorsal fin ray filamentous predorsal scales paired Inferior mouth

nasas: character

Snout projecting. Anterior arm of preopercle with third infraorbital bone immediately above it; no fleshy gap .