Fish Morphology and
Identification
in FishBase
© Thad Zajdowicz
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
1. Fish Morphology
• Major characters for description and identification of fish:
1. morphometric characters, referring to continuous variables
© www.taclatch.com
From Musschoot&Laleye 2008 From Boden et al. 2004
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
1. Fish Morphology
• Major characters for description and identification of fish:
2. meristic characters, referring to discontinuous variables
© Rajesh Dangi
© G. Pavlineris (modified)
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
1. Fish Morphology
Some common meristics: scale counts
A. Longitudinal scales
B. Lateral scales
C. Upper transversal scales
D. Lower transversal scales
E. Scales between pectoral
and pelvic fins
© J. Snoeks (2004)
© Rajesh Dangi
Also predorsal scales, scales around caudal peduncle,…
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
1. Fish Morphology
Some common meristics: gill rakers
Branchial arch - gill filaments – gill rakers
Epibranchial
© www.meer.org
Ceratobranchial
© M.J. Guinan
© Rajesh Dangi
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
1. Fish Morphology
Some common meristics: fin rays
© P. Skelton (1993)
Arius proops © D. Blundell
© Silas Alben
© Rajesh Dangi
Spines, “spinelet”, soft rays
(branched or not),…
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
1. Fish Morphology
Some common meristics: vertebrae
© www.palaeos.com
© P. Skelton (1993)
Number of precaudal - preanal -
predorsal vertebrae, structure of
© Rajesh Dangi
the weberian apparatus,…
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
1. Fish Morphology
Some common meristics: teeth
© www.meer.org
Premaxillary, vomerine and palatine teeth in
Chrysichthys sp. © MRAC
Hydrocynus sp.
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
1. Fish Morphology
• Major characters for description and identification of fish:
3. descriptive characters, referring to distinguishable characters
(Department of Primary Industries
© The State of Queensland
and Fisheries) 1995 - 2007
Cynotilapia afra © Zietto
Relative position of fins, length of
barbels,…
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
2. The MORPHOMETRICS Table in FishBase
Data based on measurements of images in FishBase; morphometric data
published in journals can be found in the MORPHOLOGY Table, but only if it
has diagnostic value.
Species
Summary
Page
Clarias gariepinus © Uriah Yaniv
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
2. The MORPHOMETRICS Table in FishBase
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
1
1. Information on sex differences
2. Descriptive characters (including 2
diagnostic morphometrics)
3. Meristic characters (lateral line,
barbels, gill rakers, vertebrae) 3
4. Fins
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
Specialized organs:
Oreochromis squamipinnis © Denis Tweddle © Seaworld Inc. © George Burgess
Different appearance/colors:
Pseudotropheus saulosi © Gerard Delany Oncorhinchus nerka © Peter Essick Haplophryne mollis © Peter David
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
Melanostomias barton-
beani © www.pbs.org Dibranchus cracens © California Acad. Sc.
Farlowella sp. © koti.kapsi.fi
Remora © Havhest
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
© www.iim.csic.es
Platy © Wes/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
A B C
D E
A. Mudskipper © Wiljo Jonsson - B. Astyanax jordani © National Park
Service (NPS) U.S. Department of the Interior - C. Clupeiform adipose
eyelid © Michigan Science Art - D. Anableps anableps © Paul
Zahl/National Geographic/Getty Images - E. Flatfish © K. Telnes.
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
A B C
D E
A. Lamprey © Steve Smith/ECHO - B. Blue spot
Chaetostoma © Practical Fishkeeping - C. Rubyfish,
Plagiogeneion sp. © T. Trnski/Australian Museum -
D. Halfbeak Hemiramphus depauperatus © J.E. Randall - E. Blue marlin,
Makaira sp. © Tony Arruza/Corbis.
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
Male Oreochromis tanganicae © Arthur Tagø
Atopochilus savorgnani
© T.R. Vigliotta
Epiplatys fasciolatus fasciolatus © Anton Lamboj
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
Tylochromis sp. ©
Tylochromis
Mark Hanssens/MRAC
sp. © MRAC
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
Synodontis njassae © www.akvariefisk.net
Gadus morhua © J.C. Schou
Malapterurus electricus © N. Sloth
Blue-lined goatfish
Upeneichthys lineatus © Ian Skipworth Barbus cf. ablabes © Anton Lamboj Corydoras sterbai © G.J. Reclos
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
A
B D
A. Eagle ray © Yongala Dive - B. Grey nurse shark, Carcharias taurus © www.wallpaperfishtalk.com -
C. Galapagos shark, Carcharhinus galapagensis © Doug Perrine - D. Scalloped hammerhead, Sphyrna
lewini © Duiops - E. Manta ray, Manta birostris © www.yunphoto.net
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
© M.J. Guinan
Oreochromis macrochir - © www.meer.org
from Maar et al. 1966
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
Chromis abyssus © Richard L. Pyle & Brian D. Greene
© www.xrayprocessing.com
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
From Skelton (1993)
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
A B
D E F G
A. Stonogobiops yashia © Underground Art Studio - B. Mastacembelus armatus © Balaram Mahalder - C. Oarfish, possibly
Trachypterus © Orkney Marine Life Aquarium - D. Melanocetus johnsonii © E.A. Widder - E. Nematalosa nasus © J.E.
Randall - F. Remora © lprynne - G. Leatherjacket spine © J. King/Australian Museum
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
Merluccius merluccius © www.superfumy.com
Bluefin tuna © Census of Marine Life
Bagrus docmac
© A. Tinkoudgou Kabre / Phenacogrammus
© M.H. Sabaj Leuciscus cephalus © Tino Strauss P. Clovis Nitiema interruptus © Fabio Ghidin
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
Porbeagle shark © Canadian
Shark Research Lab
Swordtail Phenacogrammus
© Tony Terceira Hemiancistrus pankimpuju © Nathan Lujan interruptus © Fabio Ghidin
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
Apistogramma cacatuoides © Montana Exotic
Tropicals
Alectis ciliaris © blogs.yahoo.co.jp/
tak755/folder/674985.html Juvenile vs adult batfish
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
Periophthalmus modestus © Marli Tanabe
Polynemus multifilis Synodontis kogonensis
Eagle ray © Yongala Dive © www.aquadesignz.com Flying gurnard © dic.academic.ru © T. Musschoot/MRAC
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
3. The MORPHOLOGY Table in FishBase
Atopochilus
savorgnani
© T.R. Vigliotta Gadus morhua © J.C. Schou
Bregmaceros mcclellandi © Gloerfelt-Tarp
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
4. Fish Identification
• taxonomy = the science of correctly naming species
• often confused with fish identification, which refers to the use of the latest
taxonomic information to identify fishes.
• FishBase offers 3 ways to identify fish:
-Quick Identification Routine
-Identification by morphometrics
© Waterworldsports
-Identification Keys
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
4. Fish Identification
Quick Identification Routine
• if no data about the fish is available, pictograms can be used for quick
comparison by eye; FishBase also provides an explanation of the groups
to choose from
• once at the family level, a list of matching species with picture (if available)
is generated
• further identification is done by checking the pictures and full species
descriptions
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
4. Fish Identification
Quick Identification Routine
Search Page Some information about the specimen to identify can
be provided (FAO area, country, number of rays in
dorsal and anal fin) to limit the search results
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
4. Fish Identification
Quick Identification Routine
Use of the fin
formulae method
(based on Smith
and Heemstra,
1986): counts of
dorsal and anal
fin rays relatively
stable and easy to
obtain; data
derived from
MORPHOLOGY
Table
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
4. Fish Identification
Quick Identification Routine
Outcome: list of matching species
at the family level with pictures
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
4. Fish Identification
Identification by morphometrics
- User entries compared to morphometrics derived from measurements on
species images
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
4. Fish Identification
Identification by morphometrics
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
4. Fish Identification
Identification Keys
• Digitized version of published keys
• Available keys listed by FAO area, order, family, country or ecosystem
• A total of 1668 keys is currently available, of which more than 300 for
African inland waters
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
4. Fish Identification
Identification Keys
Search Page
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
4. Fish Identification
Identification Keys
Show
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
4. Fish Identification
Identification Keys
Identification of fish eggs and larvae:
www.larvalbase.org
Scorpaenid larva and Neoepinnula americana larva © Cedric Guigand
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
4. Fish Identification
Identification Keys
Identification keys for larvae are
also present in FishBase
FishBase and Fish Taxonomy Training
Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA Tervuren)
Session 2017
