What makes Ray-finned fish unique?
The fins are supported by rays, as the name indicates. In contrast to the cartilaginous fish they have a rigid skeleton. The swim bladder is also a unique feature of most ray-finned fish, enabling them to maintain buoyancy as they move up or down in the water.
What is meant by ray-finned fish?
Any of various fishes belonging to the class Actinopterygii, having fins supported by long rays of bone. The ray-finned fishes are the largest group of fishes, comprising over 20,000 species.
How many species of Actinopterygii are there?
24,000
Actinopterygii includes a remarkably diverse assemblage of fishes, including more than half of the living species of known vertebrates; over 24,000 valid species are known (see Eschmeyer, 1998).
Does Actinopterygii have swim bladder?
Unlike many other fish with elongated jaws, the nostrils are found on the end of the upper jaw. The dorsal fin is placed closed to the tail, a feature indicative of an ambush lifestyle. They can use their swim bladder for respiration.
How do ray-finned fish keep from sinking?
Characteristics of Bony Fish A lung or swim bladder, which helps the body create a balance between sinking and floating by either filling up with or emitting gases such as oxygen. Controlling the volume of this organ helps fish control their depth.
What do ray-finned fishes eat?
There are fish that eat just about every kind of food. Most of the fish included in the Critter Catalog are predators on smaller fish or invertebrates and a few eat plants.
Do Actinopterygii have teeth?
In the most derived actinopterygians, there are fewer attachments of these bones and teeth are rarely present. This increased flexibility has allowed to the upper jaw to extend and protrude so as to permit a variety of feeding specializations.
What are the differences between the Chondrichthyes and Actinopterygii fish?
The main difference between Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes is that the Chondrichthyes is the class of bony fish whose endoskeleton is made up of cartilages whereas Osteichthyes is the class of cartilaginous fish whose endoskeleton is made up of bones.
What does a ray-finned fish eat?
Most of the fish included in the Critter Catalog are predators on smaller fish or invertebrates and a few eat plants.
What is the difference between ray-finned fish and lobe-finned fish?
Most bony fish are ray-finned. These thin fins consist of webs of skin over flexible spines. Lobe-finned fish, on the other hand, have fins that resemble stump-like appendages.
What is an auratus cichlid?
The Auratus Cichlid (Melanochromis auratus) is a highly-aggressive cichlid that is also called the Malawi golden cichlid or the golden mbuna. The fish is well-known for its distinctive features. It is elongated with a narrow mouth, rounded snout, and continuous dorsal fins. Their teeth are closely spaced, making them look like incisors.
What is a cichlid fish called?
Auratus Cichlid ( Melanochromis auratus) is an mbuna that originates from Lake Malawi of Africa. This aquarium fish is known for is aggressive characteristics.
What is the best tank setup for auratus cichlid?
If there are more than 1 male in the same tank, 125 gallon tank or larger is recommended. A tank setup for Auratus Cichlid should consist of plenty of rockscape, which would mimic their natural habitat in Lake Malawi.
What are some of the most aggressive African cichlids?
Auratus Cichlids are among the most aggressive African Cichlids I know off; they are native to Lake Malawi in Africa; these fish are also referred to as Mbuna, which means rock fish or rock dwelling fish in the local language of Tonga speaking people who reside by these lakes. Mbuna refers to a lot of rock dwelling fish from this area.