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Lampreys : Petromyzoniformes
A primitive group lacking jaws, fin
rays and scales. There are 4 European species
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Sharks : Lamniformes
Fish with a cartilaginous skeleton
and a skin covered with dermal denticles. There are 15
species living in inshore waters.
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Rays : Rajiformes
Fish with a cartilaginous skeleton
and a skin covered with dermal denticles, rather like sharks
but with flattened bodies. There are 20 species living in inshore
waters.
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Eels : Anguilliformes
Elongate fish with a
single fin running from the dorsal to anal sides. 4 species live
in shallow European waters.
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Herrings : Clupeiformes
Fast swimming, open
water fish with large scales and no lateral line. Including the
anchovy there are 6 European species.
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Salmon and pike : Salmoniformes
Generally quite large
fish with a small adipose fin. A lateral line is present. 7
species of salmon, 6 whitefish, 1 grayling, 2 smelts, 2 argentines
and 1 pike and are found in Europe .
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Carps and loaches : Cypriniformes
One of the most
important groups of freshwater fish.There is a single dorsal fin,
no adipose fin and they may have barbels. There are about 35
species in N. Europe.
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Catfish : Siluriformes
The wels is probably
the largest freshwater fish in Europe and the only native catfish.
Two species of American Ictaluridae have been introduced. Catfish
carry barbels around the mouth.
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Codfish : Gadiformes
Generally marine
fish which favour cold waters. The fins lack spines, usually with
2 or 3 dorsal fins, 1 or 2 anal fins and a barbel on the
chin.About 30 species live in Northern Europe.
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Sandsmelt : Atheriniformes
This group includes
flying fish, garfish and sand smelts. The sand smelts are the most
likely to be seen as they live close inshore including brackish
water lagoons. They have large scales and 2 dorsal fins. There are
probably 2 species of sand smelt in N. Europe.
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Dory : Zeiformes
There are only a few
representitives of this order in N. Europe. All have laterally
compressed bodies with a large head and a protrusible mouth.
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Sticklebacks and pipefish : Gasterosteiformes
A commonly caught
group in both fresh and sea water. There are 3 species of
stickleback, 1 snipefish and 8 pipefish and sea horses in N.
Europe.
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Scorpion fish, Gurnards and bullheads : Scorpaeniformes
An abundant and
diverse group of mostly benthic fish
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Perches : Perciformes
Common, typically
predatory fish with spiny fins.
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Flatfish : Pleuronectiformes
Flattened fish adapted
to hide on the sea bed. About 22 species are found in marine
waters in N. Europe. Only the flounder normally enters freshwater.
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Trigger fish : Tetraodontiformes
This group is normally
tropical. A few sunfish are caught inshore. Much more abundant in
European waters is the trigger fish Balistes carolinensis. In the
last few years, perhaps linked to global warming it has extended
its range around Britain.
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