Lab Practical 2:

• Cypriniformes lack an adipose fin, have a scaleless head, pharyngeal teeth, a mouth with no teeth, a kinethmoid bone in the jaw, and an upper jaw that is protrusible and bordered only by the premaxilla.
• Cyprinidae have pharyngeal teeth in one to three rows, usually with 8 or fewer teeth per row, thin lips, an upper jaw that is usually protrusible and bordered only by the premaxilla, flexible fin rays, small barbels, and breeding tubercles.
• Notropis lutrensis, also known as Red shiner, is a species in the Cypriniformes order.
• The soft-ray portion of the dorsal fin of Sciaenops ocellatus, Red Drum, is much longer than the soft-ray portion of the anal fin.
• The body of Chaetodon capistratus, Foureye Butterflyfish, is somewhat elongate and strongly compressed.
• The dorsal fin of Lepomis macrochirus, Bluegill, is continuous and has 13 spines, located posterior to the pectoral fin.
• The anal fin of Leiostomus xanthurus, Spot Croaker, usually has 2 spines and is located posterior to the pectoral fin.
• The dorsal fin of Cynoscion nubulosus, Spotted Seatrout, is usually separated from the anal fin by a notch.
• The gas bladder of Chaetodon capistratus, Foureye Butterflyfish, is well developed and has two anteriorly directed extensions.
• The body of Percina carbonaria, Texas Logperch, is somewhat elongate and deep, and the dorsal fin is located posterior to the pectoral fin.
• Notropis stramineus, also known as Sand shiner, is a species in the Cypriniformes order.
• Notropis amabilis, also known as Texas shiner, is a species in the Cypriniformes order.
• Paralichthys lethostigma, also known as the Southern Flounder, is a member of the Pleuronectiformes family.
• Carangidae have an anal fin with 3 spines, the first 2 of which are detached from the fin, 2 dorsal fins and the second with a long base, a body that is compressed in most species and very deep in some, a caudal peduncle that is slender sometimes with a row of lateral scutes, a caudal fin that is forked, scales that are small, and scales that are cycloid in most species with some being naked.
• Selene vomer, also known as the Lookdown, is a member of the Rachycentridae family.
• Opsanus beta, also known as the Gulf toadfish, is a member of the Batrachoididae family.
• Chloroscombrus chrysurus, also known as the Atlantic bumper, is a member of the Carangidae family.
• Labrisomus nuchipinnis, also known as the Hairy blenny, is a member of the Labrisomidae family.
• Echeneis naucrates, also known as the Live Sharksucker, is a member of the Echeneidae family.
• Paralichthyidae have a pelvic fin base on the ocular and blind side that is relatively equal in length to the caudal fin, a caudal fin that is separate from the dorsal and anal fins, eyes on the left side of the head, and a body that is flat and pale on the eyeless side and rounded and patterned on the eyed side.
• Caranx crysos, also known as the Blue runner, is a member of the Pleuronectiformes family.
• Batrachoididae have a head that is broad, eyes that are dorsally oriented, a mouth that is large, a premaxilla and maxilla in gape, a small spinous dorsal fin with a much longer soft dorsal fin, scales that are absent or if present are small and cycloid, pelvic fins that are jugular with one spine and 2-3 rays, gill membranes that are broadly united with isthmus, six branchiostegial rays, and three gill arches.
• Caraciformes have well developed teeth, the presence of a pelvic fin (with five to twelve rays), and normally an adipose fin.
• The dorsal and anal fins of Sciaenidae species have long bases.
• Lepomis megalotis has 5-7 branchiostegal rays.
• The otoliths of Sciaenidae species are remarkably large.
• The trunk lateral-line canal of Sciaenidae species is well developed, expanding to the end of the caudal fin.
• The anal fin of Sciaenidae species usually has 2 (rarely 1) spines.
• The cephalic lateral-line canals of Sciaenidae species are large and conspicuous, especially those on the snout and lower jaw.
• The gas bladder of Sciaenidae species is large, often with branches or subdivisions.
• The swim bladder of Sciaenidae species is physoclistous, with the epineural only intermuscular bone, acellular bone, and 3 spot skull spine attachment (Basioccipital + Exoccipitals).
• The body of Kathetostoma albigutta, the Lancer Stargazer, is compressed and usually deep, with a mouth small, a dorsal fin continuous, a trunk lateral-line canal high on the body, and scales ctenoid.
• The body of Abudefduf saxatilis, the Sergeant major, is somewhat elongate, with two separate (or narrowly joined) dorsal fins, one or two anal fin spines, a vomer and palatines usually with teeth, 5-8 branchiostegal rays, and 1 or absent predorsal bones.
• The head of Sciaenidae species is large and broad, with a mouth upturned with fringed lips, eyes dorsal, and a trunk lateral-line canal high on the body.
• The anal fin of Lepomis megalotis has 3-5 spines.
• The dorsal fin of Lepomis megalotis, the Longear sunfish, is continuous with 5-13 spines.
• Pseudobranchs are small and hidden.
• The dorsal fin of Sciaenidae species is much longer than the soft-ray portion of the anal fin, and the spinous and soft-ray portions of the dorsal fin are usually separated by a notch.
• Astyanax mexicanus, also known as Mexican tetra, is a species in the Caraciformes order.
• Lutjanus griseus, also known as Grey Snapper, is a species in the Lutjanidae family.