Name_

2nd Hour Exam

Ichthyology

Spring 1994

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1. Matching [Supply all possible answers]. 25 points.

_____‘lie-in-wait’ predators

A. Umbridae, mudminnows
 

B. Ariidae, sea catfishes

_____regularly gulp atmospheric air

C. Amiidae, bowfins
 

D. Lepisosteidae, gars

_____only one extant species in family

E. Pacific Salmon
 

F. Anguillidae, eels

_____adults die after spawning

G. Trichomycteridae
 

H. Mormyridae

_____one member of family is able to survive freezing of some body tissues

I. Characidae, tetras
 

J. Gasteropelecidae

____young have adhesive organ at tip of snout

K. Madtoms, Notorus

 

L. Sculpins, Cottus

_____one member of family lays eggs on terrestrial plants

M. Esocidae, pikes
 

N. Lophiiformes, Anglerfishes

_____carries marble-sized eggs in mouth

0. Lebiasinidae

P. Pupfishes

_____the only true "flying" fish

Q. Whitefishes, Coregonus
   

_____known to readily use beer and soda cans for nesting

  
   

_____eggs toxic to mammals

  
   

_____reported to enter the urethra of humans

  
   

_____males build and guard nest

  
   

_____communicate in a sophisticated manner using weak electrical fields

  
   

_____females "clump" eggs on the underneath sides of rock nests guarded by the male

 
   

_____return to home stream by means of olfaction

  
   

_____leptocephalus larva

  
   

_____among the most taxonomicially difficult fishes in North America

  

 

_____most species have an ilicium and esca

  

 

2. True or False. Place a "T" in the blank if the statement is true, an "F"’ if it is false. 20 points.

The perch family Percidae is:

_____found only in marine habitats

_____endemic to North America

_____composed largely of small benthic fishes referred to as darters

_____found only in North America and Eurasia

_____most diverse in Tennessee and Alabama

_____characterized by having cycloid scales, bright breeding colors, no adipose fin, pharyngeal teeth

_____classified into four breeding behaviors including egg clumping, egg attaching, egg clustering, and egg burying.

 

Members of the family Cyprinidae are:

_____occasionally found in brackish waters

______characterized by cycloid scales, pharyngeal teeth in 1-3 rows, an adipose fin

______small fish, under 5 cm in length

______a significant ecological link in streams, rivers, and lakes among the most abundant fishes in North America

______drab, usually silvery-colored

______often adorned with breeding tubercles during the spring months

______cavity nesters with elaborate parental care

 

The family Salmonidae is:

_____endemic to North America

______characterized by an adipose fin, tiny scales, a pelvic axillary process, and comblike pharyngeal teeth

______valuable in sport and commercial fisheries

______incompletely classified because many "species" are actually complexes of biological diversity

______endangered in the Southwest

3. Provide an example (common or scientific name) of a minnow (Cyprinidae) species that: 8 points.

a. builds a pebble-mound nest:

b. spawns over nests built by a sunfish species:

c. turns upside down and spawns on the undersides of flat rocks, logs, etc.:

d. spawns in crevices:

 

4. Fill in the blank. 10 points.

 

Gars are known from every continent except____________________ Members of the family may form schools in the ocean that are many kilometers in length. The North American ____________________________ can survive periods of drought in muddy burrows in a torpid state. The American and European eels spawn in the _______________________________. The geographic distribution of the family___________________is an outstanding example of a former Gondwanaland connection.

 

5. List three established functions of breeding tubercles among fishes. 6 points.

a.

b.

c.

 

6. True or False (T or F). 20 points.

North American catfishes (Ictaluridae) are:

_____largely nocturnal in habits

_____entirely epigean

______sensitive to chemical "noise" in the environment

______cavity nesters

_____found natively in Europe and North America

______biparental care-givers only

_______economically important in the aquacultural industry

______covered with gustatory structures

_____known to range in size from about 1/2 pound to 150 pounds

_____harmful to some humans who may get "finned"

 

7. Explain the function, significance, and taxonomic distribution of Alarm Substance Cells in Ostariophysan fishes. 5 points.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. Describe the most common breeding behavior of the sunfish family Centrarchidae. 6 points.