Chapter 3 Overview

Taxonomy, Habitat and Genetics

What is Taxonomy?

How many species of fish are there?

24,000 are identified each year new species are found.

There are thousands of other aquatic species of crustaceans, mollusks, aquatic plants and other aquatic organisms.

Taxonomy is ….A system of organizing organisms into groups.

Taxonomy is based on relationships between living things.

Modern Systems

5 Kingdoms: Monera (Bacteria), Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.

Kingdom: Broadest group of similar organismsPhylum or Division

Class Order

Family

• Genus• Species

Kingdoms1. Monera: very primitive organisms.

Examples : Bacteria and blue-green algae

Kingdoms cont. 2. Protists: Single-celled organisms, very

primitive.

Examples: slime molds, protozoa, seaweed (algae), plankton

Fungi KingdomYeasts, mildews and mushrooms. Some can

cause disease in fish. Some can be food for aquatic organisms.

4. PlantaePlants that produce their own food through

photosynthesis.

Examples of Aquatic Plants:

Elodea

Watercress

5. AnimaliaMulti-cellular animals that are classified into

Phyla by their similarities and differences

Examples: Mollusca, Arthropoda, and chordata

MolluscaNautilus

Nautilus

Snail

ArthropodaLobster Blue Crab

Chordata: Backbones and spinal or nerve cords

Tropical Fish Tilapia

Scientific NamesAlso called Binomial Nomenclature

It is based on Latin or Greek Names.

The Genus and Species makes up the two part name.

NamesWhat is the scientific name for the Blue Tilapia?

Oreochromis aurea: Blue Tilapia

What would the full classification look like?

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata (spinal cord)

Order: Ciclidae

Genus: Oreochromis

Species: Aurea

What is a variety?A group of related organisms within a species

with some unique characteristics, but not different enough that they warrant another species.

Usually associated with plants.

Fish ClassesOsteichythes : Has a skeleton with true bones, a

skull with sutures, teeth (if present), nasal openings on each side, and a swim bladder or functional lung.

Examples: Catfish

OrdersSiluriformes: Example : Catfish

Salmonids: Example : Atlantic Salmon

Cypriniformes: Example: Baitfish and Carp (goldfish), barbs, danios, and rasboras.

Perciformes : Most diversive of all fish orders. Example: Saltwater and brackish fish: tilapia, striped bass, gouramis and cichlids, red drum, pompanos.

Characidae: Examples: Tetras

Gonorynchiformes: Example: Milkfish

Acipenseridae : Example: Sturgeon