FISH SKELETON

Fish are vertebrates, which means they have a skeleton that includes a spine and a skull. The
main skeleton helps to support and protect the soft parts of the fishs body, such as the organs
and muscles. In addition, parts of the fishs skeleton grow within the skin and become the hard
spines of the fins and the tiny hard plates within the fishs scales. Fish use their fins to
steer themselves through the water. Their tail acts like a paddle to push them along.

There are two different skeletal types: the exoskeleton, which is the stable outer shell of an
organism, and the endoskeleton, which forms the support structure inside the body. The skeleton
of the fish is either made of cartilage (cartilaginous fishes) or bones (bony fishes). The main
features of the fish, the fins, are bony fin rays and, except for the caudal fin, have no direct
connection with the spine. They are supported only by the muscles. The ribs attach to the spine.

Bones are rigid organs that form part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. They function to move,
support, and protect the various organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells and store
minerals. Bone tissue is a type of dense connective tissue. Because bones come in a variety of
shapes and have a complex internal and external structure they are lightweight, yet strong and
hard, in addition to fulfilling their many other functions.

Fish bones have been used to bioremediate lead from contaminated soil.

Fish is an aquatic organism which belongs to the subphylum Pisces. In the taxonomical
hierarchy, fishes belong to the kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata. They are in diverse groups
which include jawless fish, armoured fish, cartilaginous fish, lobe-finned fishes and ray-finned
fish and so on. Among these, most of them are ectothermic i.e. cold-blooded organisms.
According to the behavior and characteristics nature, they show diversity in their bodily
structures. Most of the fishes have strong and firm bony skeletal system.

Skeletal System of Fish

General features of fishes include fins, streamlines and scales and tails. But differences are
highlighted under their skins. Hence classification is much easier based on the skeletal system. A
variety of fishes is found in aquatic habitat some may be cartilaginous (Chondrichthyes) or bony
fishes (Osteichthyes). The skeletal system of fishes is either composed of thin and flexible
cartilage or hard calcified bones or both. They are good swimmers and their body structures are
designed accordingly.
Skeleton of a fish: finned vertebrate animal with skin covered with scales. It lives in water and is usually
oviparous.
Opercular: pair of bony plates covering the gill opening.
Ray of the anterior dorsal fin: each of the small bones forming the front fin on the back of a fish.
Radial cartilage: elastic substance of the radius.
Ray of the posterior dorsal fin: each of the small bones forming the rear fin on the back of a fish.
Neural spine: spine containing part of the nervous system.
Vertebra: each of the bones forming the neural spine of a fish.
Hypural: bone to which are attached the spiny rays of the caudal fin of a fish.
Caudal fin ray: each of the small bones forming the tail fin of a fish.
Anal fin ray: each of the small bones forming the fin behind the anus of a fish.
Radial cartilage: elastic substance of the radius.
Rib: each of the bones forming the thoracic cage.
Pelvic fin ray: each of the bones forming the fin beneath the pelvic girdle.
Pectoral fin ray: each of the bones forming the chest fin.
Pelvic girdle: set of bones forming the pelvis.
Clavicle: shoulder bone.
Lower jaw: mandible.
Upper jaw: upper part of the mouth.
Orbit: cavity of the skull that contains the eye.
Skull: bony case of the brain of a fish.
Describe the role of myomeres in swimming.

Myomeres are bands of muscle that run along the sides of a fishs body. They produce the
contractions that propel the body during swimming. These muscles may make up as much as
75% of a fishs body weight.

Swimming
Fish swim by exerting force against the surrounding water. There are exceptions, but this is
normally achieved by the fish contracting muscles on either side of its body in order to generate
waves of flexion that travel the length of the body from nose to tail, generally getting larger as
they go along. The vector forces exerted on the water by such motion cancel out laterally, but
generate a net force backwards which in turn pushes the fish forward through the water. Most
fishes generate thrust using lateral movements of their body and caudal fin, but many other
species move mainly using their median and paired fins. The latter group swim slowly, but can
turn rapidly, as is needed when living in coral reefs for example. But they can't swim as fast as
fish using their bodies and caudal fins

Locomotion in Fish

Fish swim, everybody knows that. They are in fact much better at swimming than we are, but
then so are all the mammals that live their lives in the water. Fish make swimming look easy, and
for them it is, millions of years of evolution have created many fascinating adaptations, many of
which we do not yet understand. What we do know is that fish, and aquatic mammals are
incredibly efficient at swimming. The energy required to propel a Whale Shark through the water
at 10 km an hour is far less than the energy required to propel a submarine of similar size at the
same speed.
 FINS AND LOCOMOTION
BODY CAUDAL FIN
There are five groups that differ in the fraction of their body that is displaced laterally
Accounts for the primary propulsive forces in 85% of the fish families (Videler 1993).

Anguilliform Locomotion

Named for the elongate fishes typical of this locomotive style, the eels. During Anguilliform
locomotion undulatory waves are passed down the entire length of the body. Typically, the head
does not act in the wave motion, but remains relatively fixed to the body. The body is flexible
and by definition will be bent into the shape of at least one-half of a sin wave.

Subcarangiform Locomotion

Less musculature used than in Anguilliform Locomotion. Between and 2/3 of body muscle
mass is used to generate undulating waves down the body. Common swimming mode for many
familiar freshwater fishes (trout, salmon).

Carangiform Locomotion

Last 1/3 of body muscle mass is used to generate propulsion. Typically associated with highly
laterally compressed fishes.

Thunniform Locomotion

Greatest "achievement" of fish swimming modes. Named after the incredibly fast swimming
Tuna Fishes. Also seen in Sharks and other long distance cruisers. This technique has evolved
independently amongst different lineages. Thunniform locomotion allows for the greatest long-
term speed. Thrust is generated by the caudal fin, which is large strong and forked. The caudal
fin is attached by a narrow peduncle region, which contains large amounts of tendons connected
to massive musculature systems.

Ostraciiform Locomotion

Very similar in principle to Thuniiform, but vastly different effectiveness. Ostraciiform

locomotion uses a slow back and forth motion, similar to a dog wagging its tail. The tail is
relatively small and unable to forcefully push through the water. Often times, these caudal fins
are not attached to the highly musculature structures, but rather to highly rigid skeletal systems.
Accompanying the evolution of this slow swimming style, fishes evolved other means of
deterring predators. Their two most common means of deterring predators are internal poisons,
and external spines.
 MEDIAN PAIRED FIN

Accounts for the primary propulsive forces in 15% of the fish families (Videler 1993)

Balistiform Locomotion

Simultaneous undulations of the dorsal and anal fins. Named after the Balistidae family
(Triggerfishes) that typifies this classification. While Balistiform locomotion is the primary
swimming mode in triggerfishes, it is almost never seen in other fish families, not even for
intermittent swimming. Balistiform locomotion may have evolved along with the "trigger"
mechanism in the triggerfishes. The trigger mechanism may require strong musculature, which
intern could be used for fin movement. This however, would not explain the usage of the anal
fin, as the trigger musculature is located along the dorsal axis.

Labriform Locomotion

Named after the Labridae family (wrasse). Pectoral fins are used to push water, similar to a
rowing effect. It is important to note that this mode is commonly used by many fish families for
stabilization. One example are the Acanthurids (Tangs) which often use their pectoral fins for
stabilization when staying in place, but do not use them while swimming forward. During
Labriform locomotion pectoral fins are held in a broad position while pushing water backward,
to generate thrust (power stroke). During the return phase (recovery stroke) pectoral fins are held
close to level to reduce drag (negative thrust). Often times, following the power stroke all fins
are held firmly against the body to increase streamlining. This swimming style is often seen in
"torpedo shaped" fishes. This shape has a natural tendency to keep the fish heading in a straight
line. Because many of the fishes using this method as the primary swimming mode lack swim
bladder buoyancy control, it is common for them to constantly swim. Combing the principles of
straight-line swimming and constant propulsion, these fish tend to cover great distances as the
continuously cruise around the reef habitat.

Amiiform Locomotion

This locomotive style utilizes undulations passing along the dorsal fin. Very few aquarium fishes
use this locomotive pattern. In fact, it is rarely discussed because the fishes typifying this style
are unknown or unfamiliar to marine fish hobbyists. However, there is one family of fishes that
are common in aquariums which use Amiiform locomotion. They are the Seahorses. Seahorses
often swim "forward" by "standing up" and using their dorsal fins to undulate or oscillate. The
rate at which their fins may oscillate is quite rapid and Amiiform swimmers in general can have
many wavelengths moving across their dorsal fin at any given time. Seahorses can have dorsal
waves moving at up to 70 Hz (Helfman et al 1997).