#ichthyology

[herpsandbirds]

[protectoursharks]

The shape of a fish's caudal tail can tell you a lot about how fast the fish moves! A rounded tail is the slowest and a lunate tail is the fastest! The lunate tail has the most optimal ratio of high thrust and low draw, making it the fastest.

Ichthyology Notes 2/?

[typhlonectes]

[whalefill]

the mighty gar...

(my half of an art trade with @jackalspine!)

[thatsbelievable]

[bnnuyboikase]

feeeesh!!

[peterokii]

freshwater fishes

[egress-ahead]

wet, sentient flat leaves

[ouzel-time]

Just a reminder that while prehistoric fish are cool, there are plenty of neat babies still around!

[possumnest]

fibsh :^)

[herpsandbirds]

Florida Gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus), family Lepisosteidae, order Lepisosteiformes, Florida, USA.

photograph by Lindsie Nicole1

[protectoursharks]

There are four types of fish scales!

Cycloid scales are thin, overlap, and flexible. They're found on primitive teleosts (like minnows and carp).

Ctenoid scales have small, backwards pointed scales (known as cterns) make the fish more hydrodynamic and faster. They're found on Advanced Ctenoids (like perch and sunfish).

Ganoid scales are thick, diamond-shaped, and mostly non-overlapping. They're found on Chondrostei (like sturgeons and paddlefish).

Placoid scales are spikey and tooth-like with nerves. These are found on Chondrichthyes (like sharks and rays).

Ichthyology Notes 3/?

[typhlonectes]

[stupidthoughtsinasmartclass]

[thatsbelievable]

[wildlifetracker]

Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, at Monterey Bay aquarium