In the 10th edition of Systema Naturae, Carl Linnaeus described the Pisces as: <blockquote>Always inhabiting the waters; are swift in their motion and voracious in their appetites. They breathe by means of gills, which are generally united by a bony arch; swim by means of radiate fins, and are mostly covered over with cartilaginous scales. Besides the parts they have in common with other animals, they are furnished with a nictitant membrane, and most of them with a swim-bladder, by the contraction or dilatation of which, they can raise or sink themselves in their element at pleasure.</blockquote>
Linnaean Characteristics
- Heart: 1 auricle, 1 ventricle. Cold, dark red blood
- Gills: external
- Jaw: incumbent
- Penis: (usually) none
- Eggs: without whites
- Organs of Sense: tongue, nostrils?, eyes, ears
- Covering: imbricate scales
- Supports: fins. Swims in the Water & Smacks.
Apodes
Muraena (eels)
Gymnotus (electric knifefishes)
Trichiurus (cutlassfishes)
Anarhichas (wolffishes)
Ammodytes (sand eels)
Stromateus (butterfishes)
Xiphias (swordfishes)
Jugulares
Callionymus (dragonets)
Uranoscopus (stargazers)
Trachinus (weevers)
Gadus (cod & kin)
Blennius (blennies)
Ophidion (cusk-eels)
Thoracici
Cyclopterus (Lumpfishes)
Echeneis (Remoras)
Coryphaena (Dolphinfishes)
Gobius (Gobies)
Cottus (Sculpins)
Scorpaena (Scorpionfishes)
Zeus (John Dories & kin)
Pleuronectes (Flatfishes)
Chaetodon (Butterflyfishes, Angelfishes, & kin)
Sparus (Breams and Porgies)
Labrus (Wrasses, Parrotfishes, & kin)
Sciaena (Snappers & Croakers)
Perca (Perch, Grouper, & kin)
Gasterosteus (Sticklebacks & kin)
Scomber (Mackerel & Tuna)
Mullus (Goatfishes)
Trigla (Sea robins)
Abdominales
Cobitis (Loaches)
Silurus (Catfishes)
Loricaria (Suckermouth Catfishes)
Salmo (Salmon, Trout, & kin)
Osmerus (smelts)
Coregonus (whitefish)
Fistularia (Cornetfishes)
Esox (Pike, Gar, and kin)
Argentina (Herring smelts)
Atherina (Silversides)
Mugil (Mullet)
Exocoetus (Flying fishes)
Polynemus (Threadfins)
Clupea (Herring, Hatchetfishes, & kin)
Cyprinus (Carp & kin)
Branchiostegi
Mormyrus (Elephantfishes)
Balistes (Triggerfishes)
Ostracion (Boxfishes & Cowfishes)
Tetraodon (Pufferfishes & Sunfishes)
Diodon (Porcupinefishes)
Centriscus (Shrimpfishes)
Syngnathus (Pipefishes & Seahorses)
Pegasus (Seamoths)
References