Aquatics Flashcards

Question

Name some species of oestichthyes:

Answer 1

(These are just some examples, google yours to check if it’s correct) • Atlantic salmon • swordfish • Atlantic cod • angler • northern pike • European bass • turbot • garibaldi • European eel • mahi mahi

Answer 2

The animal is baleen - filter-feeding system inside the mouths of baleen whales. The whale first opens its mouth underwater to take in water. The whale then pushes the water out, and animals such as krill are filtered by the baleen and remain as a food source for the whale.

Answer 3

Toothed (e.g. sperm whale)

Answer 4

The caudal fin, or tail, of a fish is the only fin to be connected to the vertebral column. It is the primary means of locomotion for most fish. Unlike many marine mammals with tails that use an up-and-down motion, fish generally use a side-to-side thrust of their caudal fin for propulsion.

Answer 5

In fish, the kidney only serves an osmoregulatory function; the excretion of nitrogenous waste occurs at the gill where ammonia is excreted as quickly as it is produced

Answer 6

The dorsal fin is located on the top of a fish along the back between the head and tail. A fish may have a single dorsal fin or two connected or unconnected fins. The dorsal fins increase the lateral surface of the body during swimming, and thereby provide stability but at the expense of increasing drag.

Answer 7

This is a thin-walled sac located inside the body of a fish that is usually filled with gas. Besides helping fishes stay buoyant it can also function as a sound producer and receptor or as an accessory respiratory organ.

Answer 8

The oesophagus in bony fish is short and expandable so that large objects can be swallowed. The oesophagus walls are layered with muscle and lead to the stomach.

Answer 9

The operculum is the bony flap that protects the gills from harm. It opens and closes to allow water to pass over the gills.

Answer 10

Gills are branching organs located on the side of fish heads that have many, many small blood vessels called capillaries. As the fish opens its mouth, water runs over the gills, and blood in the capillaries picks up oxygen that's dissolved in the water.

Answer 11

The systemic heart of fishes consists of four chambers in series, the sinus venosus, atrium, ventricle, and conus or bulbus. Valves between the chambers and contraction of all chambers except the bulbus maintain a unidirectional blood flow through the heart.

Answer 12

The pelvic fin stabilizes the fish while swimming and allows for up-and-down movement in the water. (They look like little arms)

Answer 13

The fish liver consists essentially of parenchyma tissue usually formed from double layers of liver cells separated from each other by capillary-like blood spaces called liver sinusoids. The liver is an organ that stores carbohydrates as glycogen and, especially before spawning, fats.

Answer 14

The stomach varies greatly in fishes, depending upon the diet. In most predacious fishes it is a simple straight or curved tube or pouch with a muscular wall and a glandular lining. Food is largely digested there and leaves the stomach in liquid form.

Answer 15

In fish, there is no true large intestine, but simply a short rectum connecting the end of the digestive part of the gut to the cloaca. In sharks, this includes a rectal gland that secretes salt to help the animal maintain osmotic balance with the seawater.

Answer 16

Fish reproductive organs include testes and ovaries. In most species, gonads are paired organs of similar size, which can be partially or totally fused. There may also be a range of secondary organs that increase reproductive fitness.

Answer 17

a median ventral unpaired fin, situated between the anus and the tail fin in fishes, that helps to maintain stable equilibrium.

Answer 18

Lateral line information is used for prey detection, spatial orientation, predator avoidance, schooling behavior, intraspecific communication and station holding. The lateral line of most fishes consists of superficial neuromasts (SNs) and canal neuromasts (CNs).

Answer 19

Superficial neuromasts are structures that detect water flow on the surface of the body of fish and amphibians.

Answer 20

Canal neuromasts are embedded in lateral line canals and sensitive to pressure gradients between canal pores.

Answer 21

• Ocellan’s clownfish • coral beauty angelfish • flame angelfish • lawnmower Blenny • avriga butterflyfish • raccoon butterflyfish

Answer 22

• catfish • common Molly • bumblebee goby • guppies • archerfish • pufferfish

Answer 23

Two species in different parts of the world developing similar traits but are not geographically connected

Answer 24

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), signed in 1973

Answer 25

1. International agreement between countries. 2. Protection of endangered animals and plant. 3. Regulates the trade in animals and plants. 4. Applies to animals and goods eg lizard skins 5. 30,000 animals and plants protected.

Answer 26

1. Protected species listed in three APPENDICES 2. The Appendices differ in the strength of protection provided. 3. Traders need to possess an export licence to capture and export protected species.

Answer 27

• Endangered species. • Trade only allowed for conservation reasons. • E.g. Indonesian River Turtle : Batagur baska

Answer 28

1. Contiued trade threatens the species survival. 2. Export permit necessary. 3. Mediterranean tortoises, Pig-nosed river turtle.

Answer 29

1. Species protected in one country and requires neighbouring countries to help. Export licences needed for trading. 2. The agreements are used in S.E.Asia and China to protect wild turtles caught for food. 3. Turtle farms now provide animals for the food market and to be used as medicines. 4. Chinese Soft -shelled turtle : Pelodiscus sp.

Answer 30

So it’s able to be universally recognised by one common name

Answer 31

• they are unique to each species • scientific names are formed from the animal’s genus and species name

Answer 32

Kingdom - Animalia Phylum - Chordata Class - Mammal Order - Carnivora Family - Felidae Genus - Panthera Species - Tigris

Answer 33

A temporary drop in body temperature and metabolic rate often accompanied by failure to eat or micturate/defecate, is an adaptation of endothermic vertebrates that enables them to survive the energetic demands of cold ambient temperature.

Answer 34

• the process of entering torpor during periods of desiccation where an individual will not eat or drink • African lungfish have the adaptation to do this by the creation of a subterranean mud cocoon - they can last up to 5 years like this!

Answer 35

Protects and supports the spinal cord

Answer 36

Provides fish with energy and nutrients

Answer 37

Aids in the release of gametes

Answer 38

Protection and locomotion

Answer 39

Poke into holes to find food

Answer 40

• photosynthetic organisms • circadian rhythms • breeding/seasonal variation

Answer 41

It can penetrate deep water better than regular white light

Answer 42

Good for enhancing colours of fish in the tank

Answer 43

• the strength or amount of light produced by a source; measured in watts or lux • the higher the wattage of a bulb, the more intense light it produces • if you have a deeper tank, it will require more intense light so a higher watt bulb will be needed

Answer 44

• breeding/seasonal variation • natural environment

Answer 45

• can have inline or internal/submersible heaters • work on wattage - 150w, 250w, etc • in-line heaters have a thermostat and water is heated to a set temperature as it passes through the piping/heater • if water passing through is at the set temperature, the heating element will switch off

Answer 46

• meet behaviour/biological needs of the animal - welfare • aesthetics

Answer 47

Enrichment is a principle that seeks to enhance the (quality) of captive animal care by identifying and providing the environmental (stimuli) necessary for optimal (psychological) and (physiological) wellbeing.

Answer 48

• sheltering • develop cognitive skills • attracting a mate • foraging • nesting • interaction with others (same/different species, keepers) • intimate egg laying

Answer 49

• live plants • rocks • wood • decorations • live food (legislation dependant) • PVC tubes • mirrors • children’s toys (lego, balls, etc)

Answer 50

• pacing • repetitive swimming patterns • over-active/under-active individuals • lack of interest in breeding • damaging enclosures • aggression due to unclear territories/boundaries

Answer 51

As well as ensuring good (water quality) and (enrichment) to make sure aquatic species stay healthy, keepers must also ensure that the animals are located in a (sensible location) that helps to reduce (stress) for an animal. A good location can also help reduce work load related to (maintenance).

Answer 52

• waste disposal • air quality • noise • floor loading • passing traffic • proximity to electricity • proximity to windows/lights • proximity to water sources

Answer 53

• browsers • surface feeding • filter feeding • substrate feeding • mid-water feeding

Answer 54

• grazing on algae, plankton, and coral • May cause small groups to form in an area of resource, although individuals may be solitary

Answer 55

• a mouth that can suck • a downturned mouth

Answer 56

• upwards facing mouth • eyes that break the surface

Answer 57

• shoaling fish (a large number of fish swimming together) • predatory species

Answer 58

Adapted to move quickly - limited space is an issue for captivity

Answer 59

• starfish • triggerfish

Answer 60

• jellyfish • anemones • whales

Answer 61

Strong currents to be able to catch debris/plankton/algae suspended in water

Answer 62

Superior - ambush predators Terminal - other fish Inferior - bottom feeder Sub-terminal - bottom dwelling Barbels - Barbels are a whisker like organ found near the mouth of certain fish. These organs are sensory organs that help the fish locate food in murky waters, acting as taste buds or nostrils Tubular - sucking Elongated - poke around for food

Answer 63

Fish foods normally contain (macro) nutrients, (trace) elements and (vitamins) necessary to keep captive fish in good (health).

Answer 64

• long shelf life • very short lived once they hit the water • They lose their nutrients within seconds of becoming wet again • Vitamin C is lost within about ten seconds of soaking

Answer 65

• Most commonly seen of the ‘dry’ foods, • Usually well balanced to suit all types of fish. • However, they have a very high surface area to volume ratio so they can spread out in the water and be consumed more effectively

Answer 66

• Floating foods in a range of sizes. • Better at holding their nutrients than flake foods • not suitable for all types of fish because of feeding styles - e.g. filter feeders

Answer 67

• These are creatures such as shrimps and water fleas that have been prepared in the same way as flake foods • They have no moisture and tend to float • Tend to be lacking in nutritional value

Answer 68

• Often essential when breeding • Good form of enrichment (predation, moving round tank, smelling/observing) • Good for weaning wild caught stock onto frozen food. • Can provide a food supply overnight • Animals love it!

Answer 69

• Never a reliable supply. • Nutritionally, live foods are good, but by no means excellent. • Can be expensive to feed live foods continuously. • Many parasites use live foods as a way of getting into fish – easy to contaminate a tank. • Needs to be rinsed or treated first. • Shelf life is short • Hard to gauge how much is being eaten or how much is going into the systems. • It can be hard to wean fish off of live foods when they get used to them

Answer 70

• Allow keepers to offer their fish diets that are almost impossible to culture in the UK, such as tropical shrimps, Krill, and other delicacies. • Excellent value for money. • A bag of live food might cost £1.00, where a single pack of frozen food will have 24 bags worth of food for around £2.50. • MUST remain frozen until ready to be used. • Once it has defrosted, it must either be used or binned, it cannot be refrozen. • Most are treated with radiation before freezing – this kills any possible diseases that might survive the freezing process. • Some young fish can be tricked into taking frozen foods instead of dried foods.

Answer 71

• colour may fade out/change • body, shape, condition and/or behaviour will be abnormal • the fish may refuse to feed all over food and trailing faeces appear at vent • condition of the fins and gills, will deteriorate. Fins may be clamped close to the body. • the fish may not keep it’s swimming position • there may be signs of injuries, growths, or abnormalities

Answer 72

• developmental disorders • poor nutrition • trauma • pre-existing and novel disorders • poor water quality • incorrect temperature • stress

Answer 73

• injured fish have often been bullied by tank mates • injuries can be the site of secondary infections, bacterial and fungal • stress caused by bullying, injuries and infections can lower their immune system further, which can in some cases be fatal

Answer 74

A parasite is an organism that lives of another option to the detriment of the host cells. These can be internal (endoparasites) or external (ectoparasites). They can be: • protozoan (single celled) • nematodes (round worms) • Digenea (flukes/flatworm) • crustacean (eg louse)

Answer 75

Fungus or multicellular, spore, producing organisms that live off other organisms and dead matter. Some are parasitic. Fungal spores are commonly found in aquarium water. Healthy fish have a protective mucus covering which can prevent infection by fungal spores.

Answer 76

• bacteria are microscopic, single celled organisms that can reproduce rapidly • they are naturally present in aquarium water • fish in good health kept in good water conditions can fight bacterial infections • fish are most prone to such infections if in poor condition as a result of bad or sudden changes in water, quality overcrowding, bullying, bad handling or transportation • a poor diet, lacking insufficient protein, fatty acids and vitamins can reduce fish resistance to such disease

Answer 77

Causes: • digenea and monogenea parasites are caught by direct contact with contaminated fish or enclosures • flukes attach themselves to the body and eat skin/gill tissue and blood Symptoms: • the gills may move rapidly and fish made gasp at the water surface • the fish may scrape itself against objects • colours fade as damaged areas are covered in mucus • the skin may redden in places • the fins may become ragged Treatment: • these parasites can be treated with formalin

Answer 78

Cause: • caused by the addition of fish that have not been quarantined or through feeding Symptoms: • abdominal bloating • wasting • reluctance to take food • observed read/brown worms protruding from the fishes vent Treatment: • commercial fish wormers will help with infestation

Answer 79

Causes: • protozoan parasites is a free swimming in the water, or carried in with the new fish or plants • fish under stress from bad water conditions are more susceptible Symptoms: • the fish’s skin and things are covered in tiny white spots • a badly affected fish may make rapid gill movements Treatment: • remove plants and activated carbon from filters as they can affect/be affected by treatment • treat with methylene blue, which kills the free swimming larval stage (theronts)

Answer 80

Causes: • caused by heavy infections of flagellate protozoans • may occur after a fish has been attacked due to stress/injury Symptoms: • Costia live on the surface of fish, but are very difficult to identify as they are extremely small organisms • some fish may have grey patches • rubbing on the substrate/tank/theming Treatment: • formalin will treat this condition

Answer 81

Causes: • a protozoan • naturally occurring but high levels occur as a result of poor water quality or overcrowding Symptoms: • fish may take on a milky appearance due to increased mucus secretion • increased flashing/rubbing observed • lethargic, reluctance to feed Treatment: • formalin or malachite, depending on whether fresh or salt water

Answer 82

Causes: • aquatic fungi. Fish that are in poor health and have damaged mucous membranes through bad water quality, rough handling, fighting, or physical injury are more prone to infection fungus can be a secondary infection to other conditions. Symptoms: • grey, white or brown cotton wool like growths on the skin or fins Treatment: • malachite green can be used and salt baths may help recovery

Answer 83

Causes: • a number of different bacteria. These could be transmitted from other infected fish, and/or bad water conditions. Symptoms: • open sores and ulcers, reddening of things and vent, may lose their appetite and colour may change Treatment: • fish can be fed, antibiotic medicine in feed. If severe fish should be isolated and antiseptic applied to infected areas. • insure tank conditions are correct

Answer 84

causes: • bacteria such as Aeromonas, pseudomonas and Flavobacterium (mouth fungus) Symptoms: • damaged, split, or ragged looking things • can lead to cotton wool like Tufts around the mouth • may cause loss of appetite and listlessness • when chronic may develop ulcers on the body Treatment: • aquarium, antibacterial medicines are available and in serious cases, veterinary treatment is needed • it is easier to prevent bacterial infections than cure them

Answer 85

This is a notifiable disease. DEFRA must be informed of fish identified as having this disease. Causes: • viral infection caused by rhabdovirus Carpio Symptoms : • darkening of skin, pale gild, popeye, protruding vent, bleeding in gills, skin and eyes. Lethargic, abnormal swimming positions, sitting on bottom of the tank. Treatment: • no known treatment

Answer 86

Causes: • the crustacean parasite Lernaea. It can grow up to 12 mm. usually brought in by non-quarantine fish. Symptoms : • whitish-green threads, hang out of the fishes skin, with an inflamed area or ulcer at the point of their attachment Treatment: • the water can be treated with insecticide. The adult parasites can be removed manually and the wound treated with antiseptic to prevent bacterial infection.

Answer 87

Causes: • this can be caused by a number of things from internal swellings, tumours, viral and bacterial infections, internal deformities, constipation, parasites, etc to overfeeding Symptoms: • bobbing to the surface • swimming upside down • listing to one side with abnormal swimming patterns Treatment: • unless the cause can be identified, this is difficult to treat • starvation of fish for a few days might correct the problem if it is as a result of overfeeding. If this does not work a vet should be consulted

Answer 88

• inbreeding and congenital deformities • tumours and swellings • viral growths • malnutrition or inappropriate diet • internal disorders/parasites that cause fluid retention and swelling

Aquatics Flashcards

(114 cards)