Ray Finned Fish & Chondrichthyes Quiz

Class Agnatha

• Includes jawless organisms: lampreys and hagfish.

Class Chondrichthyes

• Comprises jawed fish: sharks, skates, and rays.
• Characteristics: lack swim bladder, possess a cartilaginous skeleton.

Phylum Chordata

• Key features:
  • Notochord develops into the vertebral column.
  • Nerve chord forms the brain and spinal cord before birth.
  • Pharyngeal slits present.
  • Postanal tail exists.

Bony Fish Characteristics

• Possess a swim bladder for buoyancy.
• Have bony scales covering their bodies.
• Maintain neutral buoyancy naturally.
• Reproduction primarily external and sexual.

Body Shapes of Fish

• Fusiform: typical streamlined shape.
• Depressiform: flattened structure.
• Globular: round morphology.

Mouth Position Types

• Superior: used for top feeding (e.g., surface feeders).
• Terminal: suited for predatory behavior (e.g., hunting).
• Inferior: designed for bottom feeding (e.g., scavenging).

Types of Fish Scales

• Ganoid: thick and heavy scales.
• Ctenoid: lighter, provides flexibility.
• Cycloid: similar to ctenoid, light and flexible.

Reproductive Terms

• Dioecious: refers to separate sexes in a species.
• Synchronous fish: functional gonads of both sexes present simultaneously.
• Sequential fish: ability to change sex over time (e.g., snook).

Osmoregulation

• Mechanism fish use to maintain solute balance in their bodies.

Reproductive Forms

• Oviparity: common reproductive method involving external fertilization (eggs and sperm).
• Hermaphroditic examples:
  • Protogyny: female to male transition (e.g., wrasses).
  • Protandry: male to female transition (e.g., anemonefish).

Scales of Sharks and Rays

• Denticles: small, backward-pointing scales providing texture.

Water Control in Sharks

• Sharks store urea to help manage water loss in saline environments.

Prey Detection

• Sharks have lateral lines and sensory pores to sense prey in their surroundings.

Reproductive Strategy in Sharks

• Ovoviviparous: eggs hatch internally, leading to live births.

Dogfish Shark Reproduction

• Follows ovoviviparous method with yolk sac nourishment during gestation, leading to live births.

Energy Efficiency in Sharks/Rays

• Use of backward-pointing scales to trap water, minimizing friction.
• Maintaining saltwater balance as elasmobranchs.
• Storing urea and other chemicals for buoyancy.
• Efficient dental structure aids predation.

Key Differences: Sharks vs. Bony Fish

• Sharks lack swim bladders; bony fish possess oily swim bladders.
• Sharks have cartilaginous skeletons; bony fish have bony skeletons.
• Sharks control water levels using urea; bony fish use different mechanisms.

Shark Organ Functions

• Liver: contains oil, aiding buoyancy by reducing body density.
• Spiral valve: increases intestinal surface area for enhanced nutrient absorption.

Test your knowledge about Ray Finned Fish and Chondrichthyes with this quiz. Learn about jawless organisms, examples of each class, and their key characteristics. Perfect for students studying marine biology or ichthyology.