ICHTHYOLOGY

ASQ 10303
SEM 1 2017/2018
DR. NORSHIDA BINTI ISMAIL
FA C U LT Y O F B I O R E S O U R C E S & F O O D I N D U S T R Y
UNISZA KAMPUS BESUT
COURSE SYNOPSIS

• This course introduces students to a branch of zoology that studies on fish.

• Students will learn the taxonomy, diversity, organizational structure, survival and various
relationships in life cycle of fish, method of determining the age, growth, feeding habits,
breeding and other features that are important to fish.
• This course will include discussions of Ichthyology application in aquaculture.
• Most of the practical will be conducted in the laboratory, and some training will involve field
work.
• Through series of exercises and sharing, students will understand the specialized topics in
Ichthyology and sustainable management of fishery resources
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOME

At the end of this course, students should be able to :

• Discuss the basic understanding of Ichtyology
• Organise in groups to do data and sample collection,
analyses and taxonomic keys
• Discuss current issues in Ichthyology
MAIN REFERENCES

• Helfman, G., Collette, B. B., Facey, D. E., & Bowen, B. W. (2009). The diversity of fishes:
biology, evolution, and ecology. John Wiley & Sons.
• Alan R. Holyoak. Ichthyology: A Laboratory Manual. (2013). CreateSpace Independent
Publishing Platform.
COURSE ASSESSMENT

• Mid term test – 20%

• Assignments – 10%
• Lab reports – 10%
• Lab test – 20%
• Final exam - 40%
CLASS SCHEDULE
Week Date Lecture topics Practical/ Lab
1 13/9 Introduction to Ichthyology  -
2 20/9 Skeletal System, Skin, Scales  
3 27/9 Soft Anatomy  External anatomy of fish
4 4/10 Oxygen, metabolism & energetics  Internal antomy of fish
5 11/10 Sensory systems  
6 18/10 Deepavali
7 25/10 Homeostasis  Determining age of fish
8 1/11 Functional morphology  Mid semester test
Mid semester break
9 15/11 Early life history  
10 22/11 Juveniles, adults, age and growth  Fish egg development
11 29/11 Sharks, Skates and rays  Meet the sharks and friends
12 6/12 Primative Fish  Meet the teleosts
13 13/12 Teleost Fish  
14 20/12 Behavior and ecology  Lab test
WHY STUDY
ICHTHYOLOGY?
ICHTHYOLOGY JOBS

 Applied research - state, federal agencies - fisheries management

 University teaching/research
 Museum research/curatorship
 Public aquaria & aquarium hobby
 Conservation agencies (protection)
FOUNDERS OF ICHTHYOLOGY
ARISTOTLE

 First known ichthyologist - 348-322 BC

 Recognized 117 species of fish, distinguished fish from whales
PETER ARTEDI

• “Father of Ichthyology” - 1705-1734

• Classification system of fishes
• Standardized measurements and counts that remain basis of fish taxonomy
today
PETER ARTEDI

 Friend of Carolus Linneaus, who published his works after Artedi

died by drowning in a canal in Amsterdam after a night of drinking
CAROLUS LINNEAUS

• 1707-1778 - adapted Artedi’s system to use in his Systema Naturae - basis for all
future classification systems
• Extremely arrogant - some believe he may have been connected to Artedi’s death
(competition between them)
GEORGES CUVIER

 1769-1832 - classified all known species of fishes

 Conducted detailed studies of fish anatomy
 Compiled early history of ichthyology
CONSTANTINE RAFINESQUE

• 1783-1840 - produced the most detailed early account of fish in

North America - Ichthyologia Ohiensis - 1820
• Natural history of fishes of the Ohio River and its tributaries
LOUIS AGASSIZ

 1807-1873 - important volumes on classification based on fossil fishes

 Strong non-believer of evolution, but work laid foundation for evolution studies
of fish
 Popularizer of science to American public
JOHANNES MULLER

• 1801-1858 - in Germany - revised Agassiz’s classification system to

include most major groups still used today
ALBERT GUNTHER

 1830-1914 - British Museum - last person to attempt to describe all

species of fishes in the world
DAVID STARR JORDAN

• 1851-1931 - two major texts, plus president of Stanford

• Fishes of North and Middle America
• Guide to the Study of Fishes (ichthyology text)
CARL L. HUBBS

• 1894-1979 - two important texts

• Classification of Fishes (standard reference)
• Fishes of the Great Lakes Region
IN THE FUTURE ….

m
ea
dr
an
lc
• Lokman …

ir
• Identify 1000 new species from Malaysia