Fundamentals of Fish Taxonomy

About this book

Language: English

This book is primarily meant for beginners in fish taxonomy, students, teachers and amateur naturalists who are interested to know the different aspects of fish, their diversity, diagnostic characters, methods of collection, preservation, future care, gears employed and means to identify them and give a correct scientific name. The various technical terms used in selection of types, how they are selected, the rules governing them, the regulations of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, the various systems of nomenclature, synonyms, homonyms, their categories are all explained with examples. A brief history of taxonomy and the different phases it has undergone are detailed. The utility of various characters for identification and the methods of using them in keys are explained. Different types of keys which are in vogue are shown with examples. The various body measurements and counts of fish are listed with illustrative diagrams. Useful hints for describing an already known species and a new one are given. Model descriptions of a scaled and a non-scaled fishes are appended.

Contents

1. INTRODUCTION
Definition of Fish
Kinds of Fish
Diversity
Relevance of Systematics

2. FISH DIAGNOSTICS
Main Organs
Head Region
Body

3. COLLECTION, PRESERVATION AND CARE
Collection
Preservation
Care
Field Notes and Labelling

4. IDENTIFICATION
Measurements
Counts

5. FISH CLASSIFICATION
History of Taxonomy
Hierarchy

6. SYSTEMS OF NOMENCLATURE

7. RULES OF NOMENCLATURE
Some Important Regulations of ICZN
Law of Priority
Synonyms and Homonyms

8. TYPE CONCEPT
For Genera
For Species
Some Definitions Regarding Selection of Types

9. DESCRIPTION OF TAXA
Keys
Dichotomous Keys
Group or Box Keys
Pictorial Keys
Characterization
Description of a Species
Description of a New Species

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