Osteichthyes

Osteichthyes are the bony fish and the biggest group of vertebrates in the world. There are more than 29,000 species of freshwater and marine that fall into the category call bony fish which is more than 95%. The classes in the group of Osteichthyes are Actinopterygii, the ray-finned fish, and Sarcopterygii, the lobe-finned fish. There is a big variety of the kind of fish that fall into the group of bony fish, but most of them are in the class Actinopterygii or ray-finned fish. They have swim bladders which are sacs that help them float and they have both pectoral and pelvic fins, most of which have bones in them. They also all have scales and most have fusiform shaped bodies. (5,6)

Species 1:

Giant Kelpfish - Heterostichus rostratus (2)

Habitat: The giant kelpfish lives in the fronds of the Kelp. (2)

Niche: Its role is a predator and it preys on other smaller fish, molluscs and crustaceans. (1)

Adaptation: The giant kelpfish can change its color to blend in better with its environment and also to attract mates. Also, the giant kelpfish's shape is like that of a blade of kelp which helps it blend in even more with its surroundings. (2)

Life Cycle: (3,4)

• The female release around 700 eggs and the male release sperm
• The eggs get fertilized in the water
• The fertilized eggs attach to algae
  • male guards them
• Develop into larval stage and then mature around 1 year old

Species 2:

California Sheephead - Semicossyphus pulcher (1)

Habitat: They live in shallow water near rocks and sea grass/algae. When they spawn, they go more off shore. (2)

Niche: California sheepheads are predators that eat hard shelled animals and other invertebrates. As they get older, they also eat smaller fish. (1,3)

Adaptations: When the California sheepheads are not eating and are supposedly sleeping, the wrap themselves into a mucus cocoon. Their predators can not smell them through this cocoon, so they do not have to be worried about being eaten. They also have very large and long canine teeth that helps them pry shelled animals off of rocks or surfaces. Their jaws help them crush the animals and then their throat has the ability to grind the shells into little pieces. (1)

Life Cycle: (1,3)

• Mating season is July-September
• Mate by broadcast spawning
  • Females release 36,000-296,000 eggs
• The fertilized eggs develop into larvae that are pelagic for about a year.
• All sheephead fish are born female but most change to male.