Family: Salmonidae
Order: Salmoniformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-fusiform body
-adipose fin
-an axillary process at base of pelvic fin
Family
Family: Salmonidae
Order: Salmoniformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-fusiform body
-adipose fin
-axillary process at base of pelvic fin
Family
Family: Myctophidae
Order: Myctophiformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-mouth large and terminal
-photophores arranged in groups and rows on head and body
-eyes large
Family
Order: Gadiformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-pelvic fins (when present) inserted below or in front of pectoral fins
-cycloid scales
-gape of mouth formed only by premaxilla
Order
Family: Macrouridae
Order: Gadiformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-head large
-2nd dorsal fin and anal fins continuous with tail which tapers into sharp point
Family
Family: Gadidae
Order: Gadiformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-dorsal fin divided into two or three sections
-burbot with one short and one long dorsal fin
-chin barbel usually present
Family
Family: Batrachoididae
Order: Batrachoidiformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-body usually scaleless
-1st spine of dorsal fin not modified into an Illicium
-photophores present or absent
-1st dorsal fin consisting of 2-3 stout, flesh-covered spines
-pe
Family
Family: Batrochoididae
Order: Batrochoidiformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-body usually scaleless
-1st spine of dorsal fin not modified into illicium
-1st dorsal fin consisting of 2-3 stout, flesh-covered spines
-photophores present or absent
-pelvi
Family
Order: Percopsiformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-upper jaw formed by premaxilla
-pelvic fins (when present) inserted posterior to pectorals
-spines present in dorsal and anal fins
Order
Family: Percopsidae
Order: Percopiformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-ctenoid and cycloid scales present; head without scales
-pearl organs present
-adipose fin present
Family
Family: Aphredoderidae
Order: Percopsiformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-ctenoid scales; sides of head with scales
-anus between gill membranes in adult
-adipose fin absent
Family
Family: Aphredoderidae
Order: Percopsiformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-ctenoid scales; sides of head with scales
-anus is between gill membranes in adult
-adipose fin absent
Family
Family: Amblyopsidae
Order: Percopsiformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-cycloid scales; head without scales
-anus between gill membranes in adults
-adipose fin absent
-pelvic fins absent or tiny
Family
Family: Amblyopsidae
Order: Percopsiformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-cycloid scales; head without scales
-adipose fin absent
-pelvic fins tiny or absent
Family
Family: Mugilidae
Order: Mugiliformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-widely separated dorsal fins, spinous with 4 spines
-lateral line absent or very faint
-teeth small or absent
-pectorals high on both sides
-pelvic fins subabdominal
-mouth moderate in
Family
Family: Mugilidae
Order: Mugiliformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-widely separated dorsal fins; spinous with 4 spines
-lateral line absent or very faint
-teeth small or absent
-pectorals high on both sides
-pelvic fins subabdominal
-mouth moderate in
Family
Order: Atheriniformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-two dorsal fins present, first dorsal fin with spines
-lateral line absent or consisting of few pores
Order
Family: Atherinidae
Order: Atheriniformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-body elongate
Family
Species: Labidesthes sicculus
Family: Atherinidae
Order: Atheriniformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-two well separated dorsal fins
-long anal fin
-silver body color
-mouth produced into a short beak
-very slender and frail looking
Species
Species: Labidesthes sicculus
Family: Atherinidae
Order: Atheriniformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-two well separated dorsal fins
-long anal fin
-silver body color
-mouth produced into short beak
-very slender and frail looking
Species
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-one dorsal fin present, without spines
-body dorsally flattened
-same number of rays in the upper and lower caudal lobes
Order
Family: Fundulidae
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-males without anal fin rays modified into gonopodium
-back more dorsally flattened compared to Cyprinodontidae
-no lateral line
Family
Species: Fundulus notatus
Family: Fundulidae
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-broad, dark lateral band extending along the length of the body
-No or few, faint spots along upper scales
Species
Species: Fundulus notatus
Family: Fundulidae
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-broad, dark lateral band extending along length of body; not as intense as F. olivaceus
-no or few, faint spots along upper sides
Species
Family: Poeciliidae
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-males with anal fin rays modified into gonopodium
-bear young alive
Family
Species: Gambusia affinis
Family: Poeciliidae
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-no anal fin of males modified into intermittent organ
-no bars or stripes on sides
-teardrop present
-top head without metallic spot
Species
Species: Gambusia affinis
Family: Poeciliidae
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-no anal fin of males modified into gonopodium
-no bars or stripes on sides
-teardrop present
-top head without metallic spot
Species
Family: Gasterosteidae
Order: Gasterosteiformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-small, scaleless fish
-3-16 separated dorsal spines along back followed by normal dorsal fin
-narrow caudal peduncle
-mouth not at end of tune-shaped snout
Family
Family: Gasterosteidae
Order: Gasterosteiformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-3-16 separated dorsal spines along back followed by a normal dorsal fin
-mouth not at end of tube-shaped snout
Family
Family: Syngnathidae
Order: Gasterosteiformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-normal dorsal fin with 10-23 rays
-body elongate and encased in a series of bony scales
-mouth at end of tube-shaped snout
Family
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-possession fo suborbital stay, a posterior extension of the third suborbital bone which extends across the cheek to the preoperculum.
Order
Family: Scorpaenidae
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-body compressed; head usually with ridges and spines (2 opercular, 5 preopercular)
-dorsal fin usually single (often with notch)
-venom gland in dorsal, anal, and pelvic spines
Family
Family: Scorpaenidae
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-body compressed
-head usually with ridges and spines (2 opercular, 5 preopercular)
-dorsal fin usually single (often with notch)
-venom gland in dorsal, anal, and pelvic spines
Family
Family: Cottidae
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-pectoral fin without a few rays that are distinctly longer than the others
-dorsal fins separate; 1st dorsal fin with several weak spines
-dorsal fin spines not covered in flesh
-hea
Family
Species: Cottus bairdii
Family: Cottidae
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-3-4 black bars; usually indistinct
-pectoral fin with 16 rays
-lateral line ending before caudal peduncle
-dorsal fins slightly connected
Species
Species: Cottus bairdii
Family: Cottidae
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-3-4 black bars, usually indistinct
-pectoral fin with 16 rays
-lateral line ending before caudal peduncle
-dorsal fins slightly connected
Species
Family: Cyclopteridae
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-pelvic fins, when present, modified into sucking disc
-lateral line usually absent
-lump-shaped
Family
Order: Perciformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-fins with spines
-at least some ctenoid scales or no scales at all
-upper jaw bordered by premaxilla
-bone cells usually absent in adults
-2 dorsal fins, never an adipose fin
-one spine and no more than
Order
Family: Moronidae
Order: Perciformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-opercle with 2 round spines (none below main spine)
-3 anal fin spines
-dorsal fin with deep notch (between spinous and rayed fin)
-caudal fin forked
-not hermaphroditic
-lateral line c
Family
Species: Morone chysops
Family: Moronidae
Order: Perciformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-2nd anal spine intermediate in length between 1st and 3rd
-stripes not interrupted
-lower jaw protruding beyond upper
-dorsal fins separate
Species
Species: Morone chysops
Family: Moronidae
Order: Perciformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-2nd anal spine intermediate in length between 1st and 3rd
-stripes not interrupted
-dorsal fins separate
-lower jaw protruding beyond upper
Species
Family: Centrarchidae
Order: Perciformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-no opercular spines -tail forked
-some laterally compressed
-3 or more anal spines
-dorsal fin continuous or with notch
-lateral line usually complete
Family
Species: Micropterus dolomieu
Family: Centrarchidae
Order: Perciformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-mouth small, maxilla not even extending beyond eye
-sides below lateral line without several rows of dark dots
-lateral line scales usually more than 6
Species
Species: Micropterus punctulatus
Family: Centrarchidae
Order: Perciformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-mouth small, maxilla not extending beyond eye
-sides below lateral line with several lines of dark spots
-lateral line scales usually less than 66
-
Species
Species: Micropterus punctulatus
Family: Centrarchidae
Order: Perciformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-mouth small, maxilla not extending beyond eye
-sides below lateral line with several lines of dark spots
-lateral line scales usually less than 66
-
Species
Species: Micropterus punctulatus
Family: Centrarchidae
Order: Perciformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-mouth small; maxilla not extending beyond eye
-sides below lateral line with several lines of dark spots
-lateral line scales usually less than 66
-
Species
Species: Micropterus salmoides
Family: Centrarchidae
Order: Perciformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-mouth large, maxilla extending past eye
-broad dark midlateral stripe
-juveniles without tri-colored caudal fin
-deep notch between spinous and soft d
Species
Species: Ambloplites rupestris
Family: Centrarchidae
Order: Perciformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-11-13 dorsal spines
-5-7 anal spines
-rows of dark spots along sides
Species
Species: Lepomis cyanellus
Family: Centrarchidae
Order: Perciformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-large mouth
-dark spot at origin of last rays of dorsal and anal fins
-yellow or orange at margins on anal, caudal, and 2nd dorsal fins
-thin blue-green l
Species
Species: Lepomis cyanellus
Family: Centrarchidae
Order: Perciformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-large mouth
-dark spot at origin of the last rays of dorsal and anal fins
-yellow or orange at margins on anal, caudal, and 2nd dorsal fins
-thin blue-gre
Species
Species: Lepomis marcrochirus
Family: Centrarchidae
Order: Perciformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-large dark spot at rear of soft dorsal fin
-small mouth
-pectoral fins long, pointed
-gill rakers long, thin
-6-8 chain-like olive bands on sides
Species
Species: Lepomis megalotis
Family: Centrarchidae
Order: Perciformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-Thin and deep bodied
-long, very flexible ear flap
-alternating stripes of blue and orange on face
-gill rakers short, thick
-short, flexible rounded pect
Species
Species: Lepomis microlophus
Family: Centrarchidae
Order: Perciformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-semilunar red spot on ear flap
-thin, deep-bodied
-gill rakers short, knobby
-semi-flexible ear flap
Species
Species: Lepomis gibbosus
Family: Centrarchidae
Order: Perciformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-deep, thin body
-round red or orange spot at the tip of the stiff ear flap
-wavy blue lines across cheek
-gill rakers short, stubby
-pectoral fin long and
Species
Species: Lepomis gibbosus
Family: Centrarchidae
Order: Perciformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-deep, thin body
-round red or orange spot at tip of stiff ear flap
-wavy blue lines across cheek
-gill rakers short and stubby
-pectoral fin long and point
Species
Species: Lepomis gulosus
Family: Centrarchidae
Order: Perciformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-shallow bodied and robust
-large mouth
-dark lines radiating from eye
-patch of teeth on tongue
-only 3 anal spines
Species
Species: Pomoxis annularis
Family: Centrarchidae
Order: Perciformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-thin and much compressed
-very long and predorsal region with sharp dip over eye
-large mouth
-6 spines in dorsal fin
Species: Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Family: Centrarchidae
Order: Perciformes
Distinguishing characteristics:
-thin and much compressed
-very long and predorsal region with sharp dip over eye
-large mouth
-7-8 spines in dorsal fin