Taxonomic composition

Collections of the Division of Ichthyology includes representatives of more than 4.000 species of lower vertebrates (fishes and fish-like animals) belonging to more than 400 families of 56 orders.

Representation of classes Cephalaspidomorphi and Myxini is the poorest, there are only few species that could be found in the collection.

 

The ray

Collection of Elasmobranchii belongs to the oldest in the Division. Its first specimens were acquired in the middle of XIX century and are now in the Museum exhibits or in the store-room. The collection of sharks includes specimens of 13 families, of which best represented are Scyliorhinidae, Carcharhinidae and Squalidae. Collection of the rays includes representatives of 8 families, most numerous being Rajidae.

Small collection of Holocephali includes specimens of several species representing all 3 families.

Sarcopterigians are represented by just old specimens bought as far back as the end of XIX century.

In the collection of ganoids the most complete is representation of Acipenseriformes, mainly of acipenserids proper. Russian and Siberian sturgeons are most numerous, there are good samples of Pseudoscaphirhynchus from Middle Asia, while Polyodontidae are represented by limited number of specimens.

Orders Lepisosteiformes and Amiiformes are both represented by just few specimens acquired by the end of XIX century. Those of best quality are exposed in the Museum exhibition.

Among cupeiforme fishes there are species both from open ocean and closed seas of Russia, in particular anadromous species of the Volga and Azov herring that became very rare due to power stations.

 

The gayling

Principal families of Salmoniformes are all represented pretty completely, the collection of salmonids including about 40 species. Collection of white-fishes includes many species from European North, Siberia, Far East, among which are endemic species.

Not very big collection of the order Esociformes contains numerous samples from former USSR and some species from North America.

Among Argentiniformes there is a noteworthy collection of species of Alepocephalidae of Platytroctidae that were skillfully treated by Yu.I. Sazonov, formerly a member of the Division staff.

All families of Stomiiformes and Mictophiformes are represented in the collection, most part of them having been identified be respective specialists from marine institutions in Russia.

Deep water fishes of the orders Bathyclupeiformes, Ateleopodiformes and Saссopharyngiformes are present in small number. This is true also for the Mormyriformes.

Cypriniforme fishes constitute the most numerous part of the collection. At present, it includes more than 200 species, mainly from Russia and other FSU countries, but also from Mongolia. Most numerous are cyprinids, cobitids and several others.

Collection of Characiformes consisted for many ears just of several African species. At present, it includes also numerous characinoids from Amazonia.

Collection of Siluriformes contains representatives of 15 families, including all species of the native fauna. There is certain number of marine species of the families Ariidae and Plotosidae, as well as some Amazonian taxa.

Collection of Anguilliformes includes representatives of 16 families, of significance are deep water species of Nettasomatidae, Congridae, Serrivomeridae and some others. Collection of Notacanthiformes is quite extensive, while that of Beloniformes is small but contains pretty good sample of Hemirhamphidae.

In collections of Gadiformes and Ophidiiformes all species are represented, especially good is the sample of deep water onion-eyed fishes which was studied by several specialists and contains holotypes of newly described species.

Collection of Gasterosteiformes includes good samples of several native species.

Collection of Beryciformes began with several specimens from Malay Archipelago in 1883, and now it contains quite numerous specimens of more than 50 species, among which are poorly known deep water ones. Of special interest is the type series of new genus and species Hispidoberyx ambigiosus, a type of new family Hispidoberycidae described by A.N. Kotlyar.

Small collections of Zeiformes includes some interesting deep water species.

 

The rosefish

Representative of the order Perciformes are most diverse and constitute more than one third of species composition of the fish collection in the Museum. It includes representatives of more that 100 families. Among marine families, the Serranidae, Carangidae, Lutjanidae, Pomadasyidae, Sciaenidae, Sparidae, Labridae are most adequately represented. Family Gobiidae is represented by more than 70 species, many of which are native ones. Fresh water perciforms are represented by an extensive collection of native species of nominotypical family.

Collection of Scorpaeniformes includes about 20 families, of which most numerous are Scorpaenidae and Cottidae (more than 60 species in each), as well as Agonidae from N Pacific.

The order Pleuronectiformes is represented by all families from nearly all seas of the World, most complete collections gathered for Bothidae and Pleuronectidae (more than 40 species in each).

Old collection of Tetraodontiformes includes few well preserved specimens, among them are exhibits in the Museum permanent display. Recent acquisitions brought to the Museum more than 100 species belonging to 8 families.

The orders Lophiiformes and Batrachoidiformes both are nearly lacking in the Division of Ichthyology until recent times, but now they are represented by several rare deep water species, including newly described ones.