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| Different Types of Fish Species In World |
Fish is a member of the paraphyletic group of organisms. This consists of gill-bearing aquatic craniates animals with limbs and digits. Most of the fishes are hagfish, cartilaginous, bony fish and lampreys. Fishes are ectothermic which means cold-blooded. Fish are abundant in most of the bodies of water. Fishes are an important resource for human worldwide especially as food because it consists of a lot of minerals, vitamins and proteins as it stays in water bodies. These are served as religious symbols.
Here you will find a lot of useful information about fish. Here you can read articles about these wonderful creatures, see photos,
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| common carp |
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| European Seabass |
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| Goldfish |
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| oscar |
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| Siamese Fighting Fish |
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| Wels Catfish |
Squads of carp-like, haracyniform, anthem-like and catfishes
The fish belonging to the four groups named in the title are classified by the taxonomy into one large group - the superorder of cyprinoid, or "carp-like" ones. In the conditional evolutionary "table of ranks" of bony fishes, based on the ratio of primitive and more advanced features in the structure of the body, they occupy a relatively low position.
The most characteristic feature of cyprinoid fish is the presence of the so-called Weberian apparatus, which consists of several bones that connect the inner ear to the swim bladder, which probably plays the role of enhancing the sounds of the resonator. In addition, the swim bladder of fish of this superorder, as a rule, is connected by a duct to the intestine. In total, 5-6 thousand species belong to the cyprinoid species, most of which are freshwater inhabitants.
The most characteristic feature of cyprinoid fish is the presence of the so-called Weberian apparatus, which consists of several bones that connect the inner ear to the swim bladder, which probably plays the role of enhancing the sounds of the resonator. In addition, the swim bladder of fish of this superorder, as a rule, is connected by a duct to the intestine. In total, 5-6 thousand species belong to the cyprinoid species, most of which are freshwater inhabitants.
Cypriniformes Cypriniformes
Currently, this group includes more than 2,000 species of freshwater (more rarely, migratory) fish, widespread in Eurasia, North America and Africa. Their characteristic feature is the absence of teeth on the jaws. (But the so-called pharyngeal - located on the lower pharyngeal bones - their teeth are developed very well.) The mouth of the carp is often retractable, in many species with antennae. The body is usually covered with cycloid scales, less often bare. The swimming bladder is large and consists of 2-3 chambers.
The order includes several families, including, for example, the family of loachweeds (Cobitidae). But most of the cyprinids belong to the cyprinidae family. This is the largest family among fish in general, it includes about 1800 species. Most cyprinids prefer warm waters, but in some species (rudd, ide, dace), the range extends to the Arctic. The largest representative of the family is a giant barbel (Catlocarpio siamensis) living in Southeast Asia, reaching 3 m in length. And among the smallest can be called a dyond (Dionda diaboli), colorless notropis (Notropis perpallidus) and a number of other American cyprinids, whose length does not exceed 5 cm.
Most carp-shaped caviar is sticky - fish lay it on stones, vegetation, or another suitable substrate. But in some species, such as grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), caviar develops, swimming in the water column.
A number of cyprinids are characterized by care for offspring. For example, the American black-headed thick-headed (Pimephales promelas) lays eggs in a constructed nest, and then guards and takes care of the masonry. The care of the offspring of our mustard (Rhodeus sericeus) is widely known - a female of this species, using a long ovipositor, lays eggs in the mantle cavity of bivalve mollusks. Among the cyprinids there are also “cuckoos”, which throw their eggs in the nests of other fish. However, for most representatives of the detachment, concern for offspring is not expressed.
The juveniles of most cyprinids feed on zooplankton, but the diets of adult fish of this group are very diverse. For example, the chub (Leuciscus cephalus) and asp (Aspius aspius) - active predators that prey on small fish, grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) prefers a plant diet, podust (Chondrostoma nasus) and temples (Varicorhinus capoeta) scrape fouling from pitfalls and stones . There are many among the cyprinids and fish that feed on benthos, collecting it from the bottom and digging it out of the ground. But bleak (Alburnus alburnus) feeds mainly on insects - and is not limited to aquatic forms and those that fall into the water, but also deftly catches, jumping out of the water, mosquitoes and flies flying over the surface.
Many cyprinids, even of relatively small sizes, are an important fishing target in fresh waters. This bream (Abramis brama), roach (Rutilus rutilus caspicus), ide (Leuciscus idus), rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) and others. Some representatives of this family are objects of artificial breeding in pond farms. The most famous among them, of course, is carp (Cyprinus carpio), but a long time ago - for more than 2 thousand years - the silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) has been bred in China.
The history of breeding and breeding of decorative cyprinids - numerous breeds of goldfish bred in China from silver carp (Carasius auratus) is also very long. According to some reports, the beginning of their breeding was laid almost 2 thousand years ago, in the 1st century, and mass selection began in the X-XIII centuries. Approximately the same, if not longer, history is the breeding of carps and their ornamental breeds (koi) in Japan.
In addition to goldfish, aquariums also contain many other cyprinids, which are distinguished by bright colors, for example, various barbs (genus Barbus) and brachydanio (genus Brachydanio) from the family of cyprinids; botsiya (genus Botia) from the loach family; Girinohejlov (family Gyrinocheilidae), etc.
The order includes several families, including, for example, the family of loachweeds (Cobitidae). But most of the cyprinids belong to the cyprinidae family. This is the largest family among fish in general, it includes about 1800 species. Most cyprinids prefer warm waters, but in some species (rudd, ide, dace), the range extends to the Arctic. The largest representative of the family is a giant barbel (Catlocarpio siamensis) living in Southeast Asia, reaching 3 m in length. And among the smallest can be called a dyond (Dionda diaboli), colorless notropis (Notropis perpallidus) and a number of other American cyprinids, whose length does not exceed 5 cm.
Most carp-shaped caviar is sticky - fish lay it on stones, vegetation, or another suitable substrate. But in some species, such as grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), caviar develops, swimming in the water column.
A number of cyprinids are characterized by care for offspring. For example, the American black-headed thick-headed (Pimephales promelas) lays eggs in a constructed nest, and then guards and takes care of the masonry. The care of the offspring of our mustard (Rhodeus sericeus) is widely known - a female of this species, using a long ovipositor, lays eggs in the mantle cavity of bivalve mollusks. Among the cyprinids there are also “cuckoos”, which throw their eggs in the nests of other fish. However, for most representatives of the detachment, concern for offspring is not expressed.
The juveniles of most cyprinids feed on zooplankton, but the diets of adult fish of this group are very diverse. For example, the chub (Leuciscus cephalus) and asp (Aspius aspius) - active predators that prey on small fish, grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) prefers a plant diet, podust (Chondrostoma nasus) and temples (Varicorhinus capoeta) scrape fouling from pitfalls and stones . There are many among the cyprinids and fish that feed on benthos, collecting it from the bottom and digging it out of the ground. But bleak (Alburnus alburnus) feeds mainly on insects - and is not limited to aquatic forms and those that fall into the water, but also deftly catches, jumping out of the water, mosquitoes and flies flying over the surface.
Many cyprinids, even of relatively small sizes, are an important fishing target in fresh waters. This bream (Abramis brama), roach (Rutilus rutilus caspicus), ide (Leuciscus idus), rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) and others. Some representatives of this family are objects of artificial breeding in pond farms. The most famous among them, of course, is carp (Cyprinus carpio), but a long time ago - for more than 2 thousand years - the silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) has been bred in China.
The history of breeding and breeding of decorative cyprinids - numerous breeds of goldfish bred in China from silver carp (Carasius auratus) is also very long. According to some reports, the beginning of their breeding was laid almost 2 thousand years ago, in the 1st century, and mass selection began in the X-XIII centuries. Approximately the same, if not longer, history is the breeding of carps and their ornamental breeds (koi) in Japan.
In addition to goldfish, aquariums also contain many other cyprinids, which are distinguished by bright colors, for example, various barbs (genus Barbus) and brachydanio (genus Brachydanio) from the family of cyprinids; botsiya (genus Botia) from the loach family; Girinohejlov (family Gyrinocheilidae), etc.
Characiformes order
This order includes 12 families and more than 1,400 species of exclusively freshwater fish, distributed in the warm regions of America and Africa. From the cyprinids (to which they were previously assigned as a suborder), the Kharazin-like ones differ in that their body is always covered with scales, they never have antennae, their mouths are not retractable, they have no pharyngeal teeth, but usually there are teeth on the jaws. In addition, most of these fish have a fat fin devoid of rays behind the dorsal fin, similar to that found in salmon. The sizes of characiforms vary from 15-20 mm in some Lebiasas (Lebiasinidae), for example, species of the genus Nannostomus (Nannostomus), up to 1.3 m in large tiger fish (Hydrocynus goliath) from the African family of Alestovids (Alestiidae).
The largest family in the order - over 450 species - the haracin family (Characidae). Although characins live very far from Russia, they are well known in our country due to their wide popularity among aquarists. These are neons (the genus Paracheirodon), a group of genera under the general name <tetra> and many other bright fish. Famous piranhas (the genus Pygocentrus, formerly Serrasalmus) are also attributed to this family.
The peculiarity of the representatives of another family of characiforms - South American wedge-bellied (Gasteropelecidae) - lies in their ability to glide along the surface of the water in case of danger.
Fish from the Lebiasinidae family (Lebiasinidae), also found in South America, are interesting in unusual ways of reproduction. For example, trout kopein (Copeina guttata) buries its eggs in the sand. And Copella Arnold (Copella arnoldi) lays eggs on the lower side of the leaves of coastal plants hanging low over the water. A male and a female of this species, while jumping out of the water, manage to lay down a small portion of several eggs for each jump and fertilize them. When spawning ends, the female swims away, and the male remains and regularly blows the masonry with blows of the tail with water.
The largest family in the order - over 450 species - the haracin family (Characidae). Although characins live very far from Russia, they are well known in our country due to their wide popularity among aquarists. These are neons (the genus Paracheirodon), a group of genera under the general name <tetra> and many other bright fish. Famous piranhas (the genus Pygocentrus, formerly Serrasalmus) are also attributed to this family.
The peculiarity of the representatives of another family of characiforms - South American wedge-bellied (Gasteropelecidae) - lies in their ability to glide along the surface of the water in case of danger.
Fish from the Lebiasinidae family (Lebiasinidae), also found in South America, are interesting in unusual ways of reproduction. For example, trout kopein (Copeina guttata) buries its eggs in the sand. And Copella Arnold (Copella arnoldi) lays eggs on the lower side of the leaves of coastal plants hanging low over the water. A male and a female of this species, while jumping out of the water, manage to lay down a small portion of several eggs for each jump and fertilize them. When spawning ends, the female swims away, and the male remains and regularly blows the masonry with blows of the tail with water.
Squad of anthem-like (Gymnotiformes)
Like the haracyniformes, this group until recently was considered a suborder in the order of carp. Several dozens of anthem-like species are common in South America. The most famous fish of this order is the electric eel (Electrophorus electricus), the only representative of a separate family of Electrophoridae. It reaches 2.5 m in length, weight can exceed 20 kg, inhabits the Orinoco basin, the Amazon and some other rivers of South America. This fish has nothing to do with real eels and is named in Russian exclusively for its elongated body shape.
Electric eel is a record among animals that can generate electric current. The discharge voltage produced by these fish can reach 800 V. Despite the small current - less than 1 A - this is quite enough to stun a rather large animal. But electric acne usually does not pose a mortal danger to humans.
Another interesting representative of the detachment is the green knifefish (Eigenmannia virescens) from the Sternopygidae family, reaching a length of 30 cm (now these fish can also be found in amateur aquariums). In a knifefish, unlike most other fish, it is not males that are territorial, but females. During the breeding season, the female who owns the site attracts a male to her territory, and after long mating games in the thick of the vegetation, eggs are laid and fertilized. In the midst of these events, another female who does not have her territory, imperceptibly creeps up to the spawning pair, and, before it is discovered and expelled, manages to lay several eggs as well. The male has no choice but to fertilize such a mixed clutch.
Electric eel is a record among animals that can generate electric current. The discharge voltage produced by these fish can reach 800 V. Despite the small current - less than 1 A - this is quite enough to stun a rather large animal. But electric acne usually does not pose a mortal danger to humans.
Another interesting representative of the detachment is the green knifefish (Eigenmannia virescens) from the Sternopygidae family, reaching a length of 30 cm (now these fish can also be found in amateur aquariums). In a knifefish, unlike most other fish, it is not males that are territorial, but females. During the breeding season, the female who owns the site attracts a male to her territory, and after long mating games in the thick of the vegetation, eggs are laid and fertilized. In the midst of these events, another female who does not have her territory, imperceptibly creeps up to the spawning pair, and, before it is discovered and expelled, manages to lay several eggs as well. The male has no choice but to fertilize such a mixed clutch.
Somoids (Siluriformes)
This order includes about 30 families and a total of more than 1600 species of fish, the sizes of which vary from 1 cm to 5 m. Catfish have no scales - their bodies are bare or covered with bone plates. Many catfish have fat fin, but the Weber apparatus is not developed in all species. In most catfish, the main sensory organs are the "mustache", often long and numerous.
Most of the squad representatives are inhabitants of the tropical and subtropical territories of Asia, Africa and America. Catfish feed mainly on animal food.
The variety of catfish is amazing. Most of them are fresh-water fish, but the Aryan (family Ariidae) and coal-tailed (family Plotosidae) catfish re-entered life in the coastal waters of warm seas. Most catfish are kept near the bottom, but the African glass catfish (Physailia pellucida) from the Schilbeidae family, which has a translucent body, inhabits the thickness and surface layers of water. Among the catfish, there are inhabitants of swamped water bodies, for example, American armored catfish (family Doradidae), and residents of pure mountain rivers - ageneiosis catfish (family Ageneiosidae). Several species live in underground ponds, in caves. This, for example, Phreatobius cisternarum from the American family of pimelodovyh (Pimelodidae) and Uegitglanis zammaranoi from the Clarium catfish (family Clariidae), common in Africa and South Asia. Some catfish, for example, the same Clari, breathe largely atmospheric air (they have a special organ extending from the gill cavity, the folded walls of which are pierced by many blood vessels) and can even suffocate without access to the surface of the water. But when the pond dries up, these fish are able to creep on land in search of a new place of residence or dig into the silt.
Finally, among catfish there are species with a unique ecological specialization for fish - parasites. These are South American catfish from the Vandellian family (Trichomycteridae) - their various species can bite into the skin of large fish, stick to the gills or settle in the urogenital ducts. This family includes the smallest member of the order - the catfish Stegophilus insidiosus, whose length is about 1 cm.
A variety of catfishes manifests itself in the methods of their reproduction. Most catfish in various forms take care of the offspring. For example, black galeichtis (Galeichthys ater) from the marine family of Aryan catfish hatches caviar in the mouth. Females of the catfish aspredo (Aspredo aspredo) from the American family of aspredo (Aspredinidae) carry their masonry on their belly. Hoplosternum catfish (Hoplosternum littorale) from the American family of armored catfish (Callichthyidae) build a nest of foam, like labyrinth fish. The Far Eastern killer whale (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) from the family of killer whales (Bagridae) digs a burrow in the clay coast for laying eggs. At the same time, many dozens of fish often dig burrows nearby, as a result of which peculiar colonies are formed, similar to those that occur on shore swallows, only under water.
Another representative of the killer whale family - the Malawian killer whale (Bagrus meridionalis) - shows even more unusual features of care for the offspring. Firstly, in addition to the usual catfish, this catfish also has the so-called trophic eggs - having remained unfertilized, they do not decompose, but are stored and serve in the future as food for young hatched from normal eggs. The second peculiarity of reproduction of the Malawian killer whale is that during parental care, a flock of fry of this catfish often mixes with fry of some cichlids, in particular Copadichromis pleurostigmoides and Ctenopharynx pictus. As a result, such a mixed brood is protected from predators by the combined efforts of two different species of fish.
Finally, among the catfish there is a species that is, by the type of reproduction, a complete analogue of the cuckoo, that is, it throws its fertilized eggs to fish of another species, and not only protecting the clutch, but also carrying it in the mouth! It is a spotted synodontis (Synodontis multipunctatus) living in East African Lake Tanganyika. And the adoptive parents of his fry are fish from the cichlid family (perch-like squad), for example, lobed cythotilapia (Cyphotilapia frontosa). In the process of spawning, tilapia first lay eggs on a substrate, fertilizes it, and only after that is taken for incubation in the mouth. In the brief period when the eggs are already laid, but not yet hidden in the mouth, a pair of synodontis manages to spawn in the same place. As a result, when cichlids collect their eggs, the parasite caviar also enters their mouths. Like real cuckoos, juvenile synodontis hatch earlier than juvenile host species. The larvae, and then the fry, quickly grow, develop and begin to devour the host's eggs right in his mouth. As a result, only a few eggs of cichlids usually manage to survive.
Many catfish are used for food and are commercial species, for example, ordinary catfish (Silurus glanis) from the catfish family (Siluridae) that we are familiar with. This is the largest representative of the detachment, its body weight can sometimes reach 300 kg with a length of 5 m. Some catfishes, especially channel catfishes (Ictalurus punctatus) from the family of catfishes (Ictaluridae), are objects of fish farming.
At the same time, among the catfish there are species that are potentially dangerous to humans. These are catfish with poisonous spines, for example, brown-tailed catfish, as well as African electric catfish (family Malapteruridae), which are up to 65 cm in size and capable of producing a discharge of voltage up to 360 V. Somik vandellia, or candira (Vandellia cirrhosa), from the already mentioned group of catfish-parasites , usually settles in the urogenital ducts of large fish, but it can (probably by mistake, focusing on the smell of urea) penetrate the urethra of bathing people, causing unbearable pain. Having sharp, bent back spikes, he can no longer get out and get rid of it only by surgery.
Most of the squad representatives are inhabitants of the tropical and subtropical territories of Asia, Africa and America. Catfish feed mainly on animal food.
The variety of catfish is amazing. Most of them are fresh-water fish, but the Aryan (family Ariidae) and coal-tailed (family Plotosidae) catfish re-entered life in the coastal waters of warm seas. Most catfish are kept near the bottom, but the African glass catfish (Physailia pellucida) from the Schilbeidae family, which has a translucent body, inhabits the thickness and surface layers of water. Among the catfish, there are inhabitants of swamped water bodies, for example, American armored catfish (family Doradidae), and residents of pure mountain rivers - ageneiosis catfish (family Ageneiosidae). Several species live in underground ponds, in caves. This, for example, Phreatobius cisternarum from the American family of pimelodovyh (Pimelodidae) and Uegitglanis zammaranoi from the Clarium catfish (family Clariidae), common in Africa and South Asia. Some catfish, for example, the same Clari, breathe largely atmospheric air (they have a special organ extending from the gill cavity, the folded walls of which are pierced by many blood vessels) and can even suffocate without access to the surface of the water. But when the pond dries up, these fish are able to creep on land in search of a new place of residence or dig into the silt.
Finally, among catfish there are species with a unique ecological specialization for fish - parasites. These are South American catfish from the Vandellian family (Trichomycteridae) - their various species can bite into the skin of large fish, stick to the gills or settle in the urogenital ducts. This family includes the smallest member of the order - the catfish Stegophilus insidiosus, whose length is about 1 cm.
A variety of catfishes manifests itself in the methods of their reproduction. Most catfish in various forms take care of the offspring. For example, black galeichtis (Galeichthys ater) from the marine family of Aryan catfish hatches caviar in the mouth. Females of the catfish aspredo (Aspredo aspredo) from the American family of aspredo (Aspredinidae) carry their masonry on their belly. Hoplosternum catfish (Hoplosternum littorale) from the American family of armored catfish (Callichthyidae) build a nest of foam, like labyrinth fish. The Far Eastern killer whale (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) from the family of killer whales (Bagridae) digs a burrow in the clay coast for laying eggs. At the same time, many dozens of fish often dig burrows nearby, as a result of which peculiar colonies are formed, similar to those that occur on shore swallows, only under water.
Another representative of the killer whale family - the Malawian killer whale (Bagrus meridionalis) - shows even more unusual features of care for the offspring. Firstly, in addition to the usual catfish, this catfish also has the so-called trophic eggs - having remained unfertilized, they do not decompose, but are stored and serve in the future as food for young hatched from normal eggs. The second peculiarity of reproduction of the Malawian killer whale is that during parental care, a flock of fry of this catfish often mixes with fry of some cichlids, in particular Copadichromis pleurostigmoides and Ctenopharynx pictus. As a result, such a mixed brood is protected from predators by the combined efforts of two different species of fish.
Finally, among the catfish there is a species that is, by the type of reproduction, a complete analogue of the cuckoo, that is, it throws its fertilized eggs to fish of another species, and not only protecting the clutch, but also carrying it in the mouth! It is a spotted synodontis (Synodontis multipunctatus) living in East African Lake Tanganyika. And the adoptive parents of his fry are fish from the cichlid family (perch-like squad), for example, lobed cythotilapia (Cyphotilapia frontosa). In the process of spawning, tilapia first lay eggs on a substrate, fertilizes it, and only after that is taken for incubation in the mouth. In the brief period when the eggs are already laid, but not yet hidden in the mouth, a pair of synodontis manages to spawn in the same place. As a result, when cichlids collect their eggs, the parasite caviar also enters their mouths. Like real cuckoos, juvenile synodontis hatch earlier than juvenile host species. The larvae, and then the fry, quickly grow, develop and begin to devour the host's eggs right in his mouth. As a result, only a few eggs of cichlids usually manage to survive.
Many catfish are used for food and are commercial species, for example, ordinary catfish (Silurus glanis) from the catfish family (Siluridae) that we are familiar with. This is the largest representative of the detachment, its body weight can sometimes reach 300 kg with a length of 5 m. Some catfishes, especially channel catfishes (Ictalurus punctatus) from the family of catfishes (Ictaluridae), are objects of fish farming.
At the same time, among the catfish there are species that are potentially dangerous to humans. These are catfish with poisonous spines, for example, brown-tailed catfish, as well as African electric catfish (family Malapteruridae), which are up to 65 cm in size and capable of producing a discharge of voltage up to 360 V. Somik vandellia, or candira (Vandellia cirrhosa), from the already mentioned group of catfish-parasites , usually settles in the urogenital ducts of large fish, but it can (probably by mistake, focusing on the smell of urea) penetrate the urethra of bathing people, causing unbearable pain. Having sharp, bent back spikes, he can no longer get out and get rid of it only by surgery.
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