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BLACKFISH.
Term Paper ID:21684
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Essay Subject:
Classification, variations, physical features, habitat, behavior, feeding.... More...
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6 Pages / 1350 Words
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Paper Abstract:
Classification, variations, physical features, habitat, behavior, feeding.
Paper Introduction:
Blackfish (Tautoga onitis)
The blackfish, or tautog (Tautoga onitis), is a fairly obscure member of the wrasse family. Its powerful jaws enable the fish to feed on hard-shelled invertebrates. Although the tautog leads a relatively unspectacular life in the northwestern Atlantic, it does belong to a rather interesting family.
The tautog belongs to the animal kingdom. In addition, it occurs within the following Linnaean taxonomic subgroups: Phylum Chordata, Class Actinopterygii, Order Perciformes, and Family Labridae. Members of the Chordata phylum are characterized by the presence of a notochord (6:23). In fish this nervous system structure is enclosed within a bony vertebral column. Class Actinopterygii comprises the ray-finned fishes (6:76). Tautogs also belong to an extremely diverse order. The order,
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In addition, "small,floating, fleshy tentaculae may attach themselves to the dorsal spinous rayextremities (11:389). T. New York, NY: Doubleday & Company, Inc.; 1961. Moreover, it contains least 6 genera andapproximately 6 species (2:2 3-2 4). Specimens found in colder Canadianwaters, however, appear to have shorter lives. Labridae is thesecond largest family of marine fishes, and the third largest perciformfamily (6:386-2 4). The fish has a long-based,notched dorsal fin. It has been suggested that the labroid pharyngeal jaw's novelorganization gives the fish tremendous plasticity with regard to feeding.Hard-shelled prey represent a very rich, and relatively under utilized,food source. Photoreactivation in two closely related marine fishes having different longevities. The fish has two rows ofextremely strong conical teeth. For example, among certain species, sexual dimorphismoccurs: e.g., the female Labrus ossifagus tends to be "less attractivethan the male (2:2 3-2 4)." Furthermore, among a few wrasse species,females are known to change into males under certain conditions. R.; Koulish, S. Researchers have found that such sexreversals generally occur in response to group reorganization subsequent tothe death of the males (3:115-116). Thereis no parental care. C. Marine game fishes of the world. Although the tautog leads a relativelyunspectacular life in the northwestern Atlantic, it does belong to a ratherinteresting family. 7. A.; Kramer, C. The young fish tend to live just off sandy beaches inamong the sea-grass (5:137). The wrasses also tend to exhibit great variation. Most catches, however,are less than half the maximum size (1:653). The tautog belongs to the animal kingdom. Living along rocky Atlantic shorelines, the tautog is a relativelyunremarkable fish. D.; Carrier, W. K.; Caldwell, M. In addition, it occurswithin the following Linnaean taxonomic subgroups: Phylum Chordata, ClassActinopterygii, Order Perciformes, and Family Labridae. Wrasses additionally exhibit some interesting reproductivecharacteristics. The fish can be found around Cape Cod from aboutlate May and mid-June through September. Their habitat, however, may stretch fromthe surf zone to about 2 miles offshore. Like most wrasse, the tautogs are active during the daytime.Although labrids are usually non-schooling fishes, the fish sometimes occurin small groups which can include cunner. Wrasse are even known to mutilate members of theirown species (2:2 3-2 4). Tautog eggs are buoyant and pelagic. The order, Perciformescontains most vertebrate ocean life. Storer, D. Finally, some adulttautogs sometimes develop whitish chins (5:137). Tautogs over 11 pounds (5kilograms) tend to be rather rare (9:393). L.; Samet, C.; Olla, B. 8. Ecomorphology: experimental functional anatomy for ecological problems. One notable behavior of small labridae speciesconsists of removing the ectoparasites from larger fish (2:2 3-2 4). Nelson, J. They preferledges and musselbeds (4:148). Herald, E. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development. 4. 3rd edition. Amsterdam, Netherlands: A. 18:59- 66; 1982, January.11. Moreover, it can changeaccording to the fishes' background. This fin, which is also rounded, contains between 16and 17 spines, and 1 rays (1:653). L. Tautogs belong to the family Labridae, or the wrasse family. Tautogs, in particular, are distributed from NovaScotia to South Carolina (1:653). Tautog spawning occurs in the spring and early summer. S. Prey to be crushed are first held between the upper and lowerpharyngeal jaws. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.; 1994. Members of theChordata phylum are characterized by the presence of a notochord (6:23).In fish this nervous system structure is enclosed within a bony vertebralcolumn. However, they are most common from CapeCod south to Delaware. Sex reversal in wrasses: I. Tautogs reach sexualmaturity at about 3 to 4 years of age. V.; 1846.12. Indeed, the order is the largest ofall the vertebrates. Likethe order Perciformes, the family Labridae is also quite diverse. Moreover, the fish generally attainan estimated average age of 34 years. These are designed primarily forcrushing (1:653). C. Regan, J. Tautogs and cunner are the only labrids that occur in the northwestAtlantic (1 :59-65). A synopsis of the fishes of North America. Colorationcan also vary among males and females, as well as between animals ofdifferent ages. Conditional Reflex. Endocrinologia Experimentalis. In addition, the wrasses exhibitconsiderable variation in size. It is also regularly caught byrecreational "deep-sea" operators off New York and New Jersey (9:393).Commercially though, tautogs are only of moderate importance. The maximum wrasse size is 9.8 feet (3meters); in contrast, some species grow to only about 2.4 inches (6centimeters) (7:258). In RhodeIsland, for example, the fish enter Narragansett Bay in late April to spawnin June and July (8:2 5-213). Nelson, J. While thefish are generally considered good food, they do not occur in large enoughnumbers anywhere throughout their range to be economically significant(1:653). Wainwright, P. Offutt, G. 31:68 -693; 1991, Winter.----------------------- 3 It includes 18 suborders, 148 families, about 1,496genera, and approximately 9,293 species (6:329-33 ). Overall, the tautog's body tends to be "deeply oval:" it is a ratherstout fish, with a rounded head (5:137). Boschung, H. Guide to marine fishes. In the northern part of their rangethough, tautogs forage primarily on mussels (5:137). Class Actinopterygii comprises the ray-finned fishes (6:76).Tautogs also belong to an extremely diverse order. Response of the tautog to acoustic stimuli measured by classically conditioning the heart rate. Either crabsor clams can be used for bait. In the fall, they tend to beplentiful around Rhode Island (4:148). In addition, posteriorly the tautog hastwo groups of rounded, molarlike teeth. The species, Tautoga onitis, may be characterized by the followingfeatures: (1) a steep head profile; (2) a blunt snout; (3) a terminalmouth; (4) thick lips; and (5) stout jaws. The lower jaw, however, is suspended from the neurocraniumin a muscular sling. The tautog's color is rather variable. Normally, the tautog feeds on a wide variety of invertebrates. The primary crushing forces are then generated by the twolevator posterior muscles pulling the lower jaw against the upper jaw.Since there are now lever arms in this system, the maximum crushingstrength is equal to the "combined maximum tetanic tension of the left andright levator posterior muscles (12:68 -691)." This tension is sufficientto enable the tautog to eat hard prey. Shades may vary from "mousy, chocolate-gray" to "deep duskygreen, brownish, or dull black (1:653)." The sides and bellies of thesefish tend to be paler in color. Tautogs feed by crushing shelled invertebrates with their teeth.This ability to exert large crushing forces is made possible by the fishes'powerful pharyngeal jaws. In combination with protruding teeth, this apparatus provides thetautog with both a useful tool and a fearsome weapon. Thesemay include barnacles, and crabs. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press; 1992. In lighter areas towards the abdomen,tautogs may bear dark mottled markings (11:389). Tautogs prefer bottom areas.However, they typically live at depths of less than 6 feet (18 meters)(1:653). B. Both fish are highly dependent on shelter. Asher & Co. Fishes of the world. Thewrasses are marine fish; they occur in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacificoceans (7:258). If a single behavior could be identified that wascharacteristic of the family, it might be their ability to sleep whileburied under sand (5:137). Furthermore, it canweigh as much as 22 pounds (1 kilograms) (9:393). These irregular blackishblotches or bars most frequently occur on the sides of smaller fish. The lifespan of Tautoga onitis is fairly long. Fishes of the world. The paired levator posterior muscles, originate onseveral bones of the posterior region of the neurocranium and insertdirectly onto the lower jaw's lateral horns (12:68 -691). 21:115-123; 1987, June. Of the wrasses, Tautoga onitis, is perhaps one of the largest. This apparent difference in longevitybetween southern and northern populations may be related to the extendedperiod of dormancy which northern populations must endure during winter(1 :59-65). In general, the wrasses tend tohave "vile dispositions (2:2 3-2 4)." The well-developed incisor or canineteeth of some species protrude from their mouths like a pair of forceps.Wrasse sometimes use these teeth as weapons: they may remove fins and eveneyes from other fishes. Itmay grow to a length of about 3 feet (91 centimeters). Tautogs may be caught during still and bottom fishing. W.; Caldwell, D. Kincl, F. S. 5. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, Inc.; 1952. Perlmutter, A. Jr.; Williams, J. Literature Cited 1. These fish only reach anestimated 1 to 14 years of age. Thischaracteristic is known as protogyny. However,some characteristics which the wrasses do have in common include thefollowing: (1) a protractile mouth; (2) separate jaw teeth which usuallyproject outward; (3) dorsal fins with 8-21 spines (usually fewer than 15)and 6-21 soft rays; (4) large to moderate cycloid scales; (5) a continuous,uninterrupted lateral line; and (6) 23-42 vertebrae (6:386-387). New York, NY: New York University Press; 1961.1 . Living fishes of the world. The tautog's ability to exploit this resource puts it at aconsiderable competitive advantage compared to fish that crush hard-shelledprey (12:68 -691). In the past, these phenomena have led to great confusionwith regard to wrasse classification. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons; 1976. Uptake of testosterone by the gonads and the central nervous system and its aromatization in the CNS of Thalassoma duperrey. They thereforetend to live near any bottom discontinuity which might provide cover (1 :59-65). 6:2 5- 214; 1971, October-December. In the company of cunner, tautogs may be found near wrecks andaround piers. Inlarger fish, they may completely disappear (9:393). Knopf; 1983. H. 2. Lythgoe, J.; Lythgoe, G. Fishes of the sea: The North American and Mediterranean. Blackfish (Tautoga onitis) The blackfish, or tautog (Tautoga onitis), is a fairly obscure memberof the wrasse family. Its powerful jaws enable the fish to feed on hard-shelled invertebrates. D.; Gotshall, D. Members of the family Labridae possess a uniquepharyngeal jaw organization. Many species are highly colorful,and several color patterns may exist within a single species. 6. 9. Its most noteworthy feature is perhaps its advancedjaw. The caudal fin is truncated and additionally roundedat the corners (4:148). For the most part, tautog's are dullin color. Tautogs can generally be found along steep rocky shores. The dorsal fin's fleshy rays tend tobe considerably higher than the spinous portion. The Audubon Society field guide to North American fishes, whales, and dolphins. New York, NY: Alfred A. American Zoologist. In addition, the fish is a favorite of bothsmall-boat and shore fisherman. C. In fact, this apparatus has been cited as "akey innovation that may underlie the group's remarkable ecological success(12:68 -691)." The most important feature of the labroid pharyngeal jaw isthe direct muscular attachment between the neurocranium and the lower jaw.The upper jaw bones articulate with the ventral surface of theneurocranium. 3. La Monte, F. S.
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