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Fish: Marine - Osteicthyes

About 85 per cent of all fishes belong to the class Osteichthyes - the bony fish. Of these, the vast majority live in the marine environment and as a group they dominate our seas. They have evolved to fill nearly every available niche, from filter feeders to scavengers and top predators. In terms of numbers of species, they are the dominant group of vertebrate animals on the planet.

• Bony fish have a skeleton made of bone.
• Most have a single gill opening on either side of their head.
• Most can sense slight changes in water pressure through a row of sensitive pits on their side (lateral line).
• Most species produce eggs rather than have live young.

Sydney Harbour and the surrounding coastal waters are home to a rich diversity of bony fish. These include commercially important species such as Snapper and Bream, aquarium fish like the seahorses and some bizarre looking species like the Weedy Seadragon. All can be found living in the waters of Australia's largest city.

Other Links:

• Australian Museum Fish Site