Fish Flashcards
Name all the fins and their function
Dorsal fin= stabilise the animal against rolling and assist in sudden turns
Adipose fin (behind dorsal only salmon, catfish) = research into whether it’s sensory
Upper and lower caudal fin= propulsion
Anal fin= stability while swimming
Pelvic fins = assists with going up and down through water
Pectoral fins = breaking and steering, associated with lift and walking in some species e.g. Mudskipper
What 3 fish types can you get and give an example of each
Jawless e.g. Sucker fish
Cartilaginous e.g. Shark
Boney e.g. Clown fish
Give some information regarding the history and success of fish
The bony fish are the most successful vertebrae group (most species, greatest biomass, greatest numbers). Even more than mammals.
These fish have evolved in poor oxygen environments and are able to generate very high oxygen levels in several tissues including the eye.
Fish haemoglobin and local control of pH may also play a role.
They live in marine and fresh water environments and also are vertically distributed too (mountains and occean abyss)
How do fish survive freezing temps?
Antifreeze molecules (glycoproteins) in blood which reduces the freezing point of body fluids.
They also reduce their metabolic rate
Water on the bottom is also insulated
Give some facts about fish repro
Can reproduce in many ways e.g. Open water spawning, spawning in nests, viviparous, oviparous
Many types of relationship e.g. Monogamous and polygamous
Reproductive rate varies between species
Fish can be hermaphrodytes
Asexual repro can occur in species containing females only
Some show sexual dimorphism (dif betwen M and F)
Paternal care varies with spp
Describe the anatomy of the gills
Found when you lift the operculum
4 cartilaginous bony “gill rakers” made up of arches
Gill filaments attached.
Gill filaments are composed of lamellae, which in turn are made of thin epithelial cells.
They are so red in colour due to haemoglobin for oxygen transport
Compare the eye of a fish to that of a mammal
Fish have a more spherical lens
There lens is camera lens
What is the lateral line?
It is a primary sensory organ
A row of sensory cells able to pick up vibrations in the water
Determines direction of source of vibrations so helps in hunting or avoiding predators
Essential to fish living in dark
What causes fish health issues?
Can the majority of these be prevented?
Give 2 reasons why fish are of vet importance
Poor water quality, trauma, poor nutrition and pre existing disease
Yes 90% of healthcare problems could be prevented
Important as worth a lot of money and also important in terms of FOOD SAFETY
Give some key points about quarantine
Needs to last 30-90 days Check fish in and out Post mortem if die If disease occurs prolong quarantine Use designation equipment
Give an example of a problem in fish farming
In salmon farming, huge losses due to skin-parasitic crustcean, causing ulcerative lesions. Cost industry 14 million euros a year
How do you PTS a fish
Concussion to brain by striking cranium
Or
Overdose
Why is filtration so important
Removal of toxic ammonia which is produced by the fish from the gills and urine and also from decay or faeces and solid waste.
What 3 types of filtration are there and how do they work?
Mechanical = trap solids
Biological = aid growth of beneficial bacteria which remove nitrogenous waste by nitrification (ammonia-nitrite-nitrate) e.g. Nitrosomonas spp
Chemical = adsorb undesirable substances from water e.g. Locked by carbon granules remove phenols
State a few things a biological filter needs
Oxygen for nitrification to occur
Not to be cleaned in tap water (Cl kills bact)
Dark (light inhibits bact)
Small amount of ammonia as food