Taxonomy of Finfish (1+2)

Procedure

 

Based on the following character identify the order cypriniformes.

 

1. Body oblong. Compressed, with small to large scales.
2. Head without scales.
3. Bony planes never developed.
4. Mouth usually protractile and always tooth less.
5. Jaws, palatine and pterygoid bones are tooth less.
6. Branchiostegal rays usually three and no supra branchial organ.
7. Single dorsal fin.  No adipose dorsal fin except in some Nemachelins and Cobitins.
8. Barbels present around the mouth (or) absent.
9. Weberian apparatus mostly modified.

 

Group the fishes based on the following character.

 

Cyprinidae

 

1.      Body with scales, generally compressed abdomen rounded or cutting.

2.      Eyes never covered with skin.

3.      Lips usually thin, not with papillae, developed in various stages.  Sometimes absent from one of the jaws (or) closely infesting both jaws or reflected from one or the other.

4.      A labial fold continuous (or) interrupted present.  Occasionally a few genera have a cartilaginous covering to either of the lips or both.

5.      No subocular spines.  Opercular bones well developed.

6.      Barbels one or two pairs, present (or) absent.

7.      Last undivided dorsal fin ray osseuous or articulated

8.      No adipose dorsal fin.

9.      Pharyngeal teeth one to 3 rows, never more than eight teeth in any one row.

10.  Lateral line complete (or) incomplete.

 

 

Subfamily 01: Cyprininae (Barbs)

• More or less oval or elongated body and compressed.

• Moth terminal to inferior and lower jaw with a sharp bony edge.

• One to three rows of pharyngeal teeth present.

• One or two pairs of barbels.

• Lateral line present and runs along median line of caudal peduncle.

e.g. Catla catla, Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus cirrhosus etc.

Subfamily 02: Leuciscinae

• Laterally compressed and elongated body.

• Eyes small and pharyngeal teeth in a single series.

• Minute cycloid scales, lateral line present and runs along middle of caudal.

• Large operculum and elongated anal fin present.

• . Hypophthalmichthys molitrix

• Subfamily 3: Rasborinae

  • Laterally compressed and elongated body.

  • More or less rounded abdomen; terminal or inferior mouth.

  • One to three rows of pharyngeal teeth.

  • Caudal forked and anal short or elongate.

  • Barbels present, one or two pairs.

  e.g. Amblypharyngodon mola

Family 02: Cobitidae (Loaches)

• Laterally compressed head and body and not flattened below.

• Subterminal to inferior mouth with thick and fleshy lips.

• Single row of pharyngeal teeth.

• Usually with three pairs of barbels.

• Fins with no spine.

• Body covered with small cycloid scales.

• Botia dario,