Ichthyology: A Laboratory Manual

Every day thousands of people stand transfixed as they watch fish swim and drift in displays like the Open Sea Exhibit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium (see the photo on the front cover). Others relax by keeping colorful fishes in their own aquaria, or even by watching virtual ones swim across their computer screens. Fishes, however, are much more than just a diversion. Once you know what to look for they can provide a window into our own evolutionary history. The exercises in this laboratory manual can help you open that window as you learn about the comparative anatomy of jawless, cartilaginous, and bony fish body plans.



This laboratory manual is designed to support a one-semester introductory course in ichthyology. The manual includes exercises on a variety of topics including dichotomous keys, phylogenetic analysis, and comparative anatomy of fishes.



The exercises in this manual can also help you hone your skills as a scientific observer, worker, and thinker. You can also come to view fishes in new and interesting ways as you work through the laboratory exercises.




NOTE: This lab manual can be viewed on any device supports Kindle books, but I recommend that you use a device that has the largest possible color screen, because the lab manual contains color photographs, plus there are many detailed figures in the exercises that may be somewhat difficult to make out if you use a device with a smaller screen.