Typology
External Morphology
Fins are the important part:
- Caudal fin determines sustained speed of fish.
- Split & Pointy: slow to start; fast sustained speeds
- Round & Big: instant start; slower sustained speeds
- Can be asymmetric (=heteroceral) or symmetric (=homoceral)
- Pelvic fins & Pectoral Fins. Auxiliary steering. Sometimes radiation like lionfish for predation/mating
- Dorsal Fin determines the size of the fish ← important for predation Other features
- Mouths: Superior (upwards-facing), Inferior (downwards-facing) or Terminal (forward-facing). Determines what the fish eats. Eyes are always forward or upward facing to avoid prey. Overall body types
- Deep-Body
- Lie-and-wait predators
- Rover Predators
- Bottom Feeders
- Bottom Clingers
- Eel-like
Feeding
- Cannot eat fish that are bigger than their mouths