Freshwater fish taxonomy 101

[Fruitbat]

Know the difference between a cichlid, a centrarchid, a cyprinid and a characin? How do you KNOW it is a rasbora? Is that really a killifish? Is that leaf goby in your lfs REALLY a goby or is it something else?

Is there enough interest in stuff like this for us to start a thread? I'll be more than happy to get the ball rolling if enough people are interested.

[madasafish]

Hehe. This being such a friendly site, I'm guessing you won't get too many "No"s.

Yeah, get the ball rolling. I've still got a lot to learn about fish taxonomy. Thanks!

Perhaps we can even make it a "sticky" if that sounds like a good idea so that it doesn't disappear from the top of the list if nobody writes anything for a few days?

[Toirtis]

Sure...I enjoy taxonomy forums.

[lmw80]

Oh my!! Did this start from my scientific names post? lol. I've always been a bit of a trend setter

[Fruitbat]

Yes lmw80....this is all YOUR fault!!!

[Allivymar]

I like the idea, but I think we need to clarify a bit; its such a broad subject I think folks don't even know where to start, even if they would like the info.

So lets start with an explanation of how the scientific names are done (sorta a recap of what was discussed in lmw80's thread). Then mebbe we can go on to discussing certain species and the differences in their physical composition (ie; what makes a plecostomus different from a lipsarcus different from an oto different from a cory) and move on from there.

[lmw80]

Yes...please...start simple for us simpletons!!

[RogerMcAllen]

Over at www.planetcatfish.com they have information on the basic classifications of catfish if anyone is interested in them. Not sure exactly where it is, but it was a pretty informative read.

[Fruitbat]

I was thinking of starting out with some basic fish anatomy fundmentals....just the external stuff....names of fins, etc.....since these are most often the only thing the general aquarist has to base his/her identification on. Most of the major Orders of commonly available freshwater aquarium fish can be FAIRLY easily distinguished on the presence/absence and arrangement of fins.

Might be a good starting point. I've already started something along that line.