INTRODUCTION

TO
ICHTHYOLOGY
BY: GROUP 3
THE HISTORY OF
ICHTHYOLOGY
 ICHTHYOLOGY
is the scientific study of fish, including bony, cartilaginous, and jawless
fish. The term derives from the Greek word "ixthus," meaning "fish."

Figure 3: Atlantic Sturgeon

Figure 1: Atlantic Salmon Figure 2: Lamprey
 From 300 B.C.E. to 1499 C.E., early ichthyology
saw significant developments. Aristotle, between
335 and 322 B.C.E., created the first taxonomic
classification of fish, describing 117
Mediterranean species and noting differences
between fish and marine mammals. Despite
errors, his work laid foundational knowledge. In
the first century B.C.E., Romans, as noted by
Pliny the Elder, practiced aquaculture, focusing
on breeding trout and mullet in ponds.
Figure 4: Aristotle
 Peter Artedi (1705-1735), known as the "father of
ichthyology," was a colleague of Linnaeus and made
significant contributions to the field of fish taxonomy. He
focused exclusively on fishes, organizing historical
literature and developing standardized methods for
anatomical measurements. Artedi identified five new fish
orders and studied major collections from Hans Sloane
and Albertus Seba. He died at 30, and Linnaeus
posthumously published Artedi's work as *Ichthyologia*
Figure 5: Peter Artedi in 1738.
 Carolus Linnaeus (1707–1778), the "father of
modern taxonomy," . Linnaeus introduced binomial
nomenclature for animals, having already applied it
to plants in *Species Plantarum* (1753). His system
simplified and organized biological knowledge,
influencing naturalists and explorers of the 18th
century and shaping modern taxonomy. Linnaeus's
students, including Daniel Solander and Carl
Figure 6: Carolus Linnaeus Thunberg, furthered ichthyology, particularly in the
Indo-Pacific region.
EVOLUTION OF FISH
WHAT ARE FISH?
HOW DID FISH EVOLVE?

Figure 7: An artists rendering of the primitive vertebrate Haikouichthys.

The earliest fish-like organisms, such as Haikouichthys, emerged in the fossil

record around 530 million years ago, characterized by jawless, primitive
features including a notochord spinal column, basic gills, and distinctive head
and tail, symmetrical body, and two eyes and a mouth.
 During the Ordovician Period, around 480 million years
ago, fish evolved to their modern form, with armored
plates and star-shaped scales, developed bony jaws,
and split into two distinct lineages: the Placoderms
(ancestors of bony fish and other vertebrates) and
Acanthodians (spiny sharks with bony scales similar to
those of modern garfish).
Figure 8: Photo of Astraspis displayed
at the Field Museum of Chicago
 During the Late Silurian and Devonian periods, the
fish lineages split again, with Placoderms giving rise
to modern bony fish (Osteichthyes) and
Acanthodians giving rise to modern sharks
(Chondrichthyes), which diversified rapidly, leading to
the extinction of Placoderms and the emergence of
lobe-finned fish, characterized by fleshy fins, similar
Figure 9: Dunkleosteus (an extinct to the Coelacanth.
placoderm fish)
 After the extinction of Placoderms, sharks underwent a
rapid diversification, featuring unusual adaptations,
including the Stethacanthidae family's unique dorsal fin,
which resembled a brush, with an unclear purpose,
before the Permian-Triassic extinction event wiped out
90-95% of all marine species, including the spiny sharks.

Figure 10: Permian fossil fish

(Paramblypterus) from Germany.
 The early Triassic period saw a recovery of fish, with
many species exhibiting similar forms due to limited
family diversity, followed by a radiation of species
among bony fish, laying the groundwork for most
modern fish, but with another extinction event wiping
out 70% of all fish species, which was then followed
by continued diversification and growth in size during
the Jurassic period, marked by the appearance of new
families like Ichthyodectes and the emergence of
Figure 11: Leedsichthys problematicus
massive filter feeders like Leedsichthys, with some
species reaching lengths of up to 50 feet.
 The rapid growth of fish in the Jurassic period is attributed
to two theories, and despite the KT extinction event that
wiped out dinosaurs and 75% of life on land, fish species
continued to thrive, with cartilaginous fish experiencing an
estimated 80% survival rate and bony fish up to 95%,
leading to the emergence of giant bony fish, the expansion
of ray-finned fish species and sizes, and the appearance of
ancestors of modern fish, including charismatic predators
Figure 12: A fossil of Xiphactinus with a Gillicus
arcuatus within its stomach.
like true sturgeon and sharks.
PRIMITIVE AND MODERN FISHES
 Primitive Fishes

Generally speaking, non-teleost fishes that are the living representatives of ancient
lineages are considered to be “primitive” or “living fossils”. More derived fishes, such
as cichlids, sunfishes, and perches, are generally considered to be “modern”. These
terms (primitive/ancient vs. modern) are not entirely accurate in terms of vertebrate
evolution, and “more derived” and “less derived” are more often used in the scientific
literature.
 Figure 13: Lungfish

Lungfishes (Sarcopterygii, Dipnoi) are considered to be among the most primitive living
fishes. More specifically, they are the oldest extant lineage of jawed, bony fishes.
There are three families and six extant species of these ancient fishes. Four species are
found in the family Protopteridae (African lungfishes) and one species each in
Ceratodontidae (Australian lungfish) and Lepidosirenidae (South American lungfish).
 Figure 14: Polypterus

The family Polypteridae (larger group Cladistia, Polypteriformes) consists of

the most primitive Actinopterygians (ray-finned fishes), the bichirs and ropefish.
All members of Polypteridae are found in Africa.
Polypterids have two lungs and are obligate air-breathers. Young polypterids
possess external gills which are lost as the fish matures.
 Sturgeons and paddlefishes (Order:
Acipenseriformes) make up the group
Chondrostei. There are approximately 26
Figure 15: Sturgeon
species of sturgeons and 2 species of
paddlefishes (American and Chinese
paddlefish).

Figure 16: Paddlefsh

 Figure 17: Gars

Gars (Ginglymodi, Lepisosteiformes) belong to the family Lepisosteidae and are among
the most primitive of predatory fishes. Together with their closest relatives the bowfins,
they make the group Holostei.
 Modern Fishes

Modern fishes comprise the largest and most successful group of all
vertebrates on the planet. The higher fishes are divided into two major
groupings, Chondrichthyes or cartilaginous fishes and the Osteichthyes or
bony fishes.
 Chondrichthyes or Cartilaginous Fishes

Figure 18: Shark

The class of cartilaginous fishes known as Chondrichthyes includes these species, which have
skeletons predominantly made of cartilage. Jawed vertebrates known as Chondrichthyes have
paired fins, paired nares, scales, and a heart with chambers arranged in series
 Osteichthyes or Bony Fishes

Figure 19: Swordfish

The complex superclass of vertebrates known as Osteichthyes, sometimes known as the "bony
fish," has skeletons that are predominantly made of bone tissue. In contrast to them, the
Chondrichthyes have skeletons that are predominantly made of cartilage. Osteichthyes, a category
that includes 28,000 species of fish and 45 orders, spanning 435 families, is made up of the bulk of
fish species. It is currently the biggest class of vertebrates.
 REFERENCES
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358621856_History_of_Ichthyology
• https://www.fossilera.com/pages/the-evolution-of-fish
• https://primitivefishes.com/gars/
• https://www.vedantu.com/neet/difference-between-chondrichthyes-and-osteichthyes
THANK YOU!