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Order Tetraodontiformes. Modern Fishes. Tetraodontiformes. The most derived of all bony fishes The most notable modification is the reduction of the internal skeleton. The Tetraodontiform Body . Tetraodontiform fishes vary distinctly in their body form: Gill openings are usually small
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Order Tetraodontiformes Modern Fishes Tetraodontiformes
Tetraodontiformes • The most derived of all bony fishes • The most notable modification is the reduction of the internal skeleton Tetraodontiformes
The Tetraodontiform Body • Tetraodontiform fishes vary distinctly in their body form: • Gill openings are usually small • Pelvic fins are absent • Body plan ranges from globular, triangular to extremely compressed Tetraodontiformes
Gray Triggerfish Scrawled Cowfish Ocean Sunfish Striped Burrfish The Tetraodontiform Body Tetraodontiformes
Tetraodontiform Protection • Since they are vulnerable to predators most posses some form of protection: Burrfish Tetraodontiformes
Balistidae Leatherjackets Filefish & Triggerfish Ostraciidae Boxfishes Tetraodontidae Puffers Diodontidae Porcupinefish Molidae Molas Tetraodontiform Taxonomy Tetraodontiformes
Family Balistidae • Triggerfish & Filefish • Common species: • Planehead Filefish (Stephanolepis hispidus) • Gray Triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) • Humuhumu nukunuku apua’a • Hawaiian Triggerfish Tetraodontiformes
Balistidae Habits • Usually slow moving, brightly colored reef dwellers • Both have robust dorsal spines and a pelvic apparatus which is slightly distensible Filefish feeding on a Moon Jelly Tetraodontiformes
Triggerfish • Has 3 dorsal spines, compared to 2 of the filefish Trigger Mechanism Tetraodontiformes
Triggerfish Tetraodontiformes
Filefish Tetraodontiformes
Family Ostraciidae • Boxfishes • Common species: • Scrawled Cowfish (Lactophrys quadricornis) Tetraodontiformes
Ostraciidae Characteristics • Body is enclosed in a bony carapace, and a spinous dorsal is absent • Some spp. secrete ostracitoxin Scrawled Cowfish Tetraodontiformes
Family Tetraodontidae • Puffers • Common species: • Northern Puffer (Sphoeroides maculatus) Tetraodontiformes
Tetraodontidae Characteristics • Have strong beak-like jaws with four teeth • Slow moving fishes, that rely on toxins and the ability to puff themselves up for protection Tetraodontiformes
Tetrodotoxin found in the internal organs Can be fatal to humans Eaten in Japan (Fugu) and prepared by licensed cooks Symptoms Slight numbness of the lips and tongue Increased paralysis, unable to move, respiratory distress, affected speech Tetrodotoxin Tetraodontiformes
Family Diodontidae • Porcupinefish • Common species: • Striped Burrfish (Chilomycterus schoepfi) Tetraodontiformes
Diodontidae Characteristics • Have two fused teeth in the mouth • Family with inflatable body • Body covered in well developed sharp spines (some erect when body inflated) Tetraodontiformes
Family Molidae • Molas / Sunfish • Common species: • Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) Tetraodontiformes
Molidae Characteristics • Large, sluggish pelagic predators that feed on jellyfish and other invertebrates • Considered to be the most fecund vertebrates in the world, over 300 million eggs Tetraodontiformes