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Fish: different types, definitions, photos, etc.

Fish are the oldest vertebrates, with a wide variety of species. There are about 32,100 named fish species distributed in various waters on the earth, of which there are about 2,500 species in China. Most of them live in seawater, with more than 1,500 marine fish and about 800 freshwater fish. In the past, fish were usually divided into two major categories, cartilaginous fish and bony fish, based on the similarities and differences in the properties of their bones. Characteristics: Aquatic animals (living in water). Skin covered with scales, belonging to cold-blooded animals. Cold-blooded animals with fins (can swim in water) and breathing with gills. Fertilization is external, mainly oviparous, some are viviparous and ovoviviparous.


Fish are a type of aquatic animals under the phylum Vertebrata, which mainly breathe through gills and use fins as the main organ of movement. Fish are the oldest and most diverse group of vertebrates on Earth, widely distributed in environments such as oceans, freshwater lakes and rivers.

  • Scientific name: Pisces (fish is no longer a strict scientific classification, but is used to describe fish in the phylum Vertebrata)

  • Main characteristics:

    1. Aquatic life: Fish live entirely in water.

    2. Gill breathing: Fish absorb oxygen from the water through their gills.

    3. Scale coverage: Most fish are covered with scales for protection.

    4. Function of fins: Use fins for swimming, balance and direction control.

    5. Poikilotherms: Fish body temperature changes with the external environment.

  • Ecological role:

    • Fish are in a key position in the food chain, both as predators and food sources.

    • Help maintain ecological balance, such as controlling algae populations and cleaning waters.

  • Evolutionary history:

    • Fish originated in the Cambrian period about 500 million years ago.

    • It was the first animal to have jaws and vertebrae, laying the foundation for the evolution of other vertebrates.


Fish classification table

Fish can be divided into three major categories based on anatomical and physiological characteristics: cartilaginous fish (such as sharks), bony fish (such as carp) and jawless fish (such as lampreys). The following is a detailed list of fish classification:

Classification levelOrderFamilyGenusExamples
Cartilaginous fishElasmobranchiiCarcharhinidaeCarcharhinusWhite Shark, Blue Shark


PristidaePristisSawfish


RajidaeRajaYellow Spotted Skate
Jawless FishCyclostomataPetromyzontidaePetromyzonLamprey


MyxinidaeMyxineHagfish
Bony fishesCypriniformesCyprinidaeCyprinidae (Cyprinus)Carp, grass carp


SiluridaeSilurusCatfish

PerciformesPercidaePercaPerch, largemouth bass


MoronidaeMoroneSeabass

AnguilliformesAnguillidaeAnguillaEuropean eel, Japanese eel

OsteoglossiformesOsteoglossidaeOsteoglossumDragon fish

ScombriformesScombridaeThunnusTuna, bluefin tuna

ClupeiformesClupeidaeClupeaSardines, herrings

CharaciformesCharacidaeAstyanaxPiranha, Astyanax

Main evolutionary history of fish

1. Origin

Fish are one of the oldest groups of vertebrates on Earth, and the earliest fish fossils can be traced back to the Cambrian period. Jawless fish (such as lampreys and hagfish) are the most primitive fish, followed by cartilaginous fish (such as sharks) and bony fish.

2. Cartilaginous fishes

Cartilaginous fishes (Chondrichthyes) include sharks, rays, etc. Their skeletons are made of cartilage rather than hard bones. These fish play an important role as predators in marine ecosystems.

3. Bony fishes

Bony fishes (Osteichthyes) are the most diverse group of fishes, with a hard bone structure. They have adapted to a variety of water environments, including freshwater and saltwater.

4. Jawless fishes

Jawless fishes are the earliest fishes, and representative species include lampreys and hagfishes. They have no jaws and rely on suction or parasitism for survival.


Ecological role of fish

  1. Important position in the food chain:

    • Predators: such as sharks maintain ecological balance.

    • Food source: such as small fish are food for many aquatic animals.

  2. Environmental health indicators:

    • The number and diversity of fish reflect the ecological health of water bodies.

  3. Resource Utilization:

    • As a source of protein for humans and a target for commercial fishing.


Conservation Status of Fish

  1. Overfishing: Many economic fish are facing the threat of extinction due to overfishing.

  2. Habitat Loss: Pollution and water development have caused serious damage to fish habitats.

  3. Climate Change: Temperature changes and acidified oceans are affecting the distribution and reproduction of fish.

  4. Conservation measures:

    • Establish aquatic conservation areas.

    • Implement sustainable fishing policies.

    • Protect endangered fish populations, such as sturgeons and eels.

Marine fishs Freshwater fish Cypriniformes Siluriformes
Oxygymnocypris stewartii

Oxygymnocypris stewartii

Oxygymnocypris stewartii,Naked carp

Features:The body is slender, slightly laterally flattened, the head is long and conical, and the snout is long and pointed.

The Latin name of sharp naked carp is Oxygymnocypris stewartii. It is a fish of the genus Oxygymnocypris in the family Cyprinidae. The origin of this species is in the Nianchu River.Due to the high altitude and low annual average water temperature, a special ecological environment has been formed. T...

Diptychus maculatus Steindachner

Diptychus maculatus Steindachner

Diptychus maculatus Steindachner,Cucumber fish, stick fish

Features:A special type of schizothorax fish that has a fresh cucumber flavor when cooked

Diptychus maculatus Steindachner is a small cold-water fish.Diptychus maculatus Steindachner is a small cold-water fish.Diptychus maculatus Steindachner generally lives in the main and tributary water environment. It likes to live in rivers with water temperatures below 20℃. Feeds on benthic organi...

Gymnodiptychus pachycheilus

Gymnodiptychus pachycheilus

Gymnodiptychus pachycheilus,Heavy lip flower fish, hemp fish, stone flower fish

Features:Sports long, tail handle is fine round, head cone -shaped, kiss protruding, lower mouth, horseshoe -shaped, jaw without sharp keratin edges, well -developed lips, thick and fleshy

Thick lip naked lip fish scientific name Gymnodiptychus Pachycheilus, belongs to carp, carp, cracked belly fish subcare, naked heavy lip fish.The thick lip naked lip fish inhabits the Kuogu River of the highland of the river, such as Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, and the upper reaches of the Yellow River...

Aspiorhynchuslaticeps

Aspiorhynchuslaticeps

Aspiorhynchuslaticeps,Big-Head Schizothoracin,Xinjiang big head fish, big head fish, tiger fish

Features:It is one of the most protected species, and the treatment is comparable to the giant panda on land

Flat kiss fish Latin scientific name ASPIORHYNCHUSLATICEPS, foreign name Big-Head Schizothoracin, is a species that gradually settled in the northwest with the rise of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. In the water body with high water temperature or slow flow of lakes. Most of the habitats are wide in the...

Schizothorax taliensis

Schizothorax taliensis

Schizothorax taliensis,Dali bow fish, bow fish, rod fish

Features:Has an important position in the fishery and tourism industry

Dali Latin name Schizothorax Taliensis is a carp family and cracked fish.Dali cracking fish is different from other cracking fish. It is a type of life that is suitable for living in a quiet water environment. It is usually an upper and middle -level in the water area in the lake. I like to consume...

Schizothorax(Racoma)biddulphi

Schizothorax(Racoma)biddulphi

Schizothorax(Racoma)biddulphi,Tarim schizothoracin,Pointed mouth fish

Features:Xinjiang is unique to fish, eggs are poisonous

Tarima Latin Name SchizoThorax (Racoma) Biddulphi (Günther, 1876), two method Tarim Schizothoracin, is the main economic fish unique to the Tarim water system.> The cracked fish in the tower is a cold water -based fish, living in rivers flowing water and lake environment. The meat is delicious a...

schizothoraxwaltoniregan,

schizothoraxwaltoniregan,

schizothoraxwaltoniregan,Pointed mouth

Features:It is one of the main economic fish in Tibet.

SchizothoraxWaltoniregan belongs to the cracks and belly fishya, which is only distributed in the middle and upper reaches of the Yarlung Tibetan River in my country. It is a unique species in my country.> In the past, it was considered that the plateau fish had spawned once a year, but the uncle...

Schizothorax davidi

Schizothorax davidi

Schizothorax davidi,Racoma davidi,Heavy -duty fine -scale fish, elegant fish, heavy mouth, heavy lip and fine -scale fish, fine turtles

Features:It is known for its "Ya'an casserole fish head" with the Qikou 以 与 与

Schizothorax (Racoma) Davidi (Sauvage, 1880) is a fish that belongs to the genus of carp.The weight of the lobed belly is fat, rich in fat. Growing faster and larger individuals, generally can grow to 1-3 kg, and the largest individual can reach 10 kg. Rich output, the yield in the production area i...

Schizothorax macropogon

Schizothorax macropogon

Schizothorax macropogon,Giant beard bow fish, beard fish

Features:There are two pairs, long, the front of the front of the gill lid at the end of the forefront, and the back of the main gill cover of the main gill cover at the end of the back

Giant Behavior Fish Latin Name Schizothorax Macropogon is a kind of fish that is a fish -shaped carp -shaped carp -shaped carp belly fish.> Giant bearded belly fish is mainly used in water -free vertebrates and aquatic insects in water. The preferences are inhabited by rivers. The water depth is...

Schizothorax chongi

Schizothorax chongi

Schizothorax chongi,

Features:As one of the famous fish of Jinsha River

Schizothorax Chongi (fang), which is a fine -scale split -abdomen, is a unique species in my country.> Fine -scale cracked belly fish is successfully domesticated, and it is carefully cultivated. After the adrenal development is mature, artificial reproduction tests are conducted. From 2005 to 20...

Platypharodon extremus

Platypharodon extremus

Platypharodon extremus,Wide tooth schizothoracin,Flat -pharyng tooth fish, small mouth fish, catfish, grassfish

Features:The back of the body is yellow -brown or lead brown, with a small number of non -obvious block -shaped dark spots, silver white in the abdomen

Polar flat pharyngeal fish Latin scientific name PlatyPharodon Extiremus, foreign name Wide Tooth Schizothoracin, no subspecies.The polar flat pharyngeal fish is mainly aquatic plant corruption and algae, and occasionally eats floating animals and mosquito larvae.The mature male fish has white granu...

Chuanchia labiosa

Chuanchia labiosa

Chuanchia labiosa,Huanghe naked carp,Big mouth catfish, sperm, flower fish, Yellow River fish

Features:Bone lips Yellow River fish is one of the unique fish in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, one of the small economy.

Bone Lip Yellow River Fish Latin scientific name Chuanchia Labiosa, foreign name Huanghe Naked Carp, no subtype.Bone lips Yellow river fish are mainly eaten with raw diatom and insects.Each egg produces about 2700 capsules with a mature female eggs with a length of about 200 mm in length, which is y...

Epalzeorhynchos bicornis Wu

Epalzeorhynchos bicornis Wu

Epalzeorhynchos bicornis Wu,Red Eye Fish, Kok Fish

Features:Smooth, cylindrical. The head is small, the kiss is round and blunt, and there is a active triangular side leaf on each side

Corporal Latin scientific name EpalzeorHynachos Bicornis & Nbsp; WU is a unique species in China.Corner fish is a small freshwater fish, which mainly inhabits the lower layer of the bottom of the rock. Scrape raw algae. The body is small, and the body length is generally 100-150 mm.In recent yea...

Typhlobarbus nudiventris

Typhlobarbus nudiventris

Typhlobarbus nudiventris

Features:When alive, the body is translucent, with a faint reddish tint, and gray-black intestinal contents can be seen in the abdomen

The Latin name of naked blind barb is Typhlobarbus nudiventris, a fish of the genus Typhlobarbus in the family Cyprinidae.The number of naked blind barb is extremely rare. The two specimens obtained later were kept in a ceramic water tank for several days. When at rest, it supports its body with the...

Percocypris tchangi

Percocypris tchangi

Percocypris tchangi

Features:Gill rakers are short, pointed, and sparsely arranged

The Latin name of Zhang's perch is Percocypris tchangi, and the specific epithet is taken from the surname of Zhang Chunlin, a famous Chinese ichthyologist. There was considerable controversy over the classification of Percocypris species, and this species was once considered a synonym of Percoc...

Percocypris pingi retrodorsalis

Percocypris pingi retrodorsalis

Percocypris pingi retrodorsalis,Flower fish, back perch

Features:The dorsal fin is located posteriorly, the snout and mouth are wide, the tentacles are well-developed, and there is a wide black pigment band along the lateral line on both sides of the body

The Latin name of the retrodorsalis percocet is Percocypris pingi retrodorsalis, which is a fish species endemic to the Lancang River and Nu River in China.The diet of the back perch carp is carnivorous, feeding on small fish and shrimps. The common individuals are 3 to 5 kilograms, and the largest...

Percocypris pingi regani

Percocypris pingi regani

Percocypris pingi regani

Features:It has rich meat and is a large economic fish.

The Latin name of the spotted carp is Percocypris pingi regani, a species of fish belonging to the genus Sinapis of the family Cyprinidae of the order Cypriniformes.The spotted carp lives in the middle and upper layers of open water. It moves quickly and is a ferocious fish that specializes in hunti...

Percocyprispingi

Percocyprispingi

Percocyprispingi,Big flower fish, leopard flower fish

Features:A ferocious carnivorous fish, known as the "tiger" of the Jinsha River

Jinsha perch carp, Latin name Percocyprispingi, is a precious, rare and unique indigenous fish in Yunnan.Jinsha perch carp juveniles mostly live along the coast of tributaries or main streams, while adult fish swim in the middle and upper layers of open water areas. It is a fast-moving, ferocious fi...

Scaphesthes macrolepis

Scaphesthes macrolepis

Scaphesthes macrolepis,Largescale shoveljaw fish,Money fish, white-armored fish, red-scaled fish, multi-scaled shovel-jawed fish, multi-scaled proboscis fish

Features:The body is relatively slender and flat on the sides. The back is slightly raised and the abdomen is round.

The Latin name of the multi-scale white snapper is Scaphesthes macrolepis, and the foreign name is Largescale shoveljaw fish, with no subspecies.The multi-scale white snapper is a warm-temperate freshwater fish. It lives in high mountain streams with clear water and sandy and gravelly bottom at an a...

Onychostoma angustistomata

Onychostoma angustistomata

Onychostoma angustistomata,Small mouth white nail, sharp mouth white nail, wax brown

Features:Likes to live in clear, gravelly water.

The Latin name of Sichuan white snapper is Onychostoma angustistomata. It is a medium-sized edible fish in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. Although its production is not as high as that of white snapper, its meat quality is better. It is one of the fish that people in the production area lik...

Sinocyclocheilus

Sinocyclocheilus

Sinocyclocheilus,Golden thread fish, small hole fish, pineapple fish

Features:The body is long, the sides are flat, the back of the head is significantly bulged and curved, and some are translucent and pink in color.

The Latin name of Sinocyclocheilus is Sinocyclocheilus, which is a general term for fish of the Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae, and Sinocyclocheilus genus.The young golden line barb mainly feeds on zooplankton and aquatic insects, and also eats a small amount of algae and higher plant fragments; the adul...