JAWLESS FISH

What defines a jawless fish? You can probably guess. A jawless fish is a fish without a jaw.
But there are other features that are shared by this class of organisms. Why would such an
organism evolve? These fish were the first vertebrates to evolve. Logically, this makes sense,
in that the vertebral column would evolve first, with the more complex jaw bones evolving
later. The early jawless fish are thought to have relied on filter feeding to capture their food,
and most likely would have sucked water and debris from the seafloor into their mouth,
releasing water and waste out of their gills. As other sea life evolved, these jawless fish began
to feed on other fish species, and are now considered a pest in their habitat. Lampreys have
no natural predators.

Features of Jawless Fish

Jawless fish are missing the following parts:
1. Jaws.
2. Paired fins.
3. A stomach.

Characteristics they do have included:

1. A notochord, both in larvae and adults. Recall a notochord is a support rod that runs
along the back of the fish.
2. Seven or more paired gill pouches. These organs take dissolved oxygen from water.
3. The branchial arches, a series of arches that support the gills of aquatic amphibians
and fishes. They lie close to the body's surface.
4. A light sensitive pineal eye, an eye-like structure that can detect light.
5. A cartilaginous skeleton, a skeleton made of a flexible rubber-like supportive
material called cartilage. This is similar to the skeleton of cartilaginous fish, which
includes sharks and rays.
6. A heart with two chambers.
7. Reproduction using external fertilization.
8. They are ectothermic. This means that their internal temperature depends on the
temperature of their environment.

Cyclostomes:
1. Origin of Cyclostomes 2. General Characters of Cyclostomes 3. Classification 4.
Representative Types 5. Affinities.

Origin of Cyclostomes:
The Cyclostomata (Gr., cyklos = circular + stoma = mouth) are the living agnathans, they are
primitive in many respects, but specialised in others. They are a modified and degenerate
offshoot of the primitive vertebrate stalk, arose in the Devonian. In the adult state they are
parasitic or scavengers on fishes. They have round bodies with laterally compressed or
diphycercal tail. They resemble eels superficially.
The suctorial mouth is ventral and round (hence, Cyclostomata). Buccal cavity has a
muscular tongue bearing epidermal teeth by which they rasp the flesh of fishes. They are the
only living vertebrates without jaws. They have 6-14 pairs of internal gills in different
species. Gill-chambers are round pouches (hence, Marsipobranchii). The skin is soft and
devoid of scales, paired appendages are absent, though median fins are present and supported
by cartilaginous fin rays.
Exoskeleton is lacking. Endoskeleton is cartilaginous with no bones and the vertebral column
is primitive. There is a single median nostril, and only one or two semicircular canals are

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present in each auditory organ. Heart is enclosed in cartilage derived from the hinder visceral
arch. They have no spleen. Cyclostomata include lampreys and hagfishes. Its two order are
not closely related, because they have evolved from different orders of ostracoderms.

General Characters of Cyclostomes:

1. Body long, rounded and eel-like.
2. Median fins with cartilaginous fin rays, but no paired appendages. Tail diphycercal.
3. Skin soft, smooth, containing unicellular mucous glands but without scales.
4. Trunk and tail muscles segmented into myotomes separated by mycommata.
5. Endoskeleton fibrous and cartilaginous. Notochord persist throughout life. Imperfect
neural arches (arcualia) over notochord represent rudimentary vertebrae.
6. Jaws absent (Group Agnatha).
7. Mouth ventral, suctorial and circular. Due to circular mouth, the class name Cyclostomata
(Gr., cyclos = circular, stoma = mouth).
8. Nostril is single and median.
9. Digestive system without stomach. Intestine with a fold, typhlosole.
10. Gills 5 to 16 pairs in lateral sac-like pouches of pharynx, hence, another name of class
Marsipobranchii. Gill-slits 1 to 16 pairs.
11. Heart 2 chambered with 1 auricle and 1 ventricle, with a conus arteriosus anteriorly.
Many aortic arches in gill region. Hepatic portal system present. Blood with leucocytes and
nucleated circular erythrocytes. Body temperature variable (poikilothermal).
12. Two metanephric kidneys with ducts to urinogenital papilla.
13. Dorsal nerve cord with differentiated brain 8 to 10 pairs of cranial nerves.
14. Single median olfactory sac. Auditory organ with 1 or 2 semicircular canals.
15. Sexes separate or united. Gonad single, large, without gonoduct.
16. Fertilisation external. Development director with a prolonged larval stage.

Classification of Cyclostomes:

About 50 species of cyclostomes are recognised. They belong to two major divisions
(Petromyzontiformes and Myxiniformes). They are termed variously as subclasses, orders or
families. Because they possess a round jawless mouth, they are combined in the class
Cyclostomata.
The similarity of these two groups is probably the result of convergent evolution. However,
they show important and basic morphological differences which can be attributed to their
long phylogenetic separation and different habits and habitats.

Order 1: Petromyzontiformes (Gr., petros = stone; myzon = suck):

Members of this order are called lampreys or lamper eels or lamperns or sand pride, etc.
1. Mouth ventral, suctorial with rasping tongue beset with many horny teeth.
2. Nostril dorsal. Nasohypophyseal sac terminates posteriorly in a blind sac, i.e., it does not
communicate with the pharynx.
3. 7 pairs of gill-pouches and gill-slits which open into a separate respiratory pharynx below
the oesophagus.
4. Dorsal fin well developed.
5. Branchial basket complete.
6. Dorsal and ventral roots of spinal nerves remain separate.
7. Ear with 2 semicircular canals.
8. Eggs numerous, small. Development indirect with a long larval stage and metamorphosis.
9. Both marine and freshwater forms.

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Examples:
Lampreys. Over 30 species. Petromyzon, Lampetra, Ichthyomyzon.

Order 2: Myxiniformes (Gr., myxa = slime; oidea = type of):

Representatives of order are called hagfishes. They are exclusively marine.
1. Mouth terminal and surrounded by 8 small tentades. Teeth few. No buccal funnel.
2. Nostril terminal. Nasohypophyseal sac opens posteriorly in the pharynx.
3. Gill-pouches and gill-slits 6 to 14 pairs.
4. Dorsal fin feeble or absent.
5. Branchial basket poorly developed.
6. Dorsal and ventral roots of spinal newes united.
7. Ear with only 1 semicircular canal.
8. Eggs few, large. Development dark.
9. Hagfishes are all marine species.
Examples:
Hagfishes. About 15 species Myxine, Eptatretus (= Bdellostoma), Paramyxine.
Representative Types of Cyclostomata:

1. Myxine:
Members belonging to the order Myxiniformes are commonly known as hagfishes. They are
exclusively marine. Myxine (Fig. 12.1) is found buried in the sea bottom. Myxine has a wide
distribution along sea coasts of both Atlantic and pacific Oceans, occurring in the waters of
Northern Europe, North Atlantic, America, Chili, Africa and Japan, etc. Body is eel-like,
measuring about 2 feet (50-60 cm) in length and differentiated into head, trunk and tail.

The surface of the body is soft and smooth without scales. The mouth is terminal and
surrounded by soft lips. Buccal funnel and jaws are absent. Branchial basket is also reduced.
Lateral to the mouth are four pairs of short tentacles supported by skeletal rods. Nostril is
single, lies very close to the mouth and opens terminally. Single pineal eye is visible on the
top of the head. Paired eyes are vestigial or degenerated due to bottom dwelling habit.
Six pairs of gills which do not open separately to the outside but open by a single pair of
external gill openings. Single median ventral fin runs from about the middle of the ventral
surface extending around the tail region. Large mucus glands are present opening by mucous
pores along both the sides of the body and secrete mucus.
Hermaphroditic with single ovotestis, anterior part being ovary and posterior testis. These
animals are parasitic or quasi-parasitic because they are sometimes found within the bodies of
their prey, which are fishes of various types. Nocturnal feeders. During the day time they live
buried in the sea bottom mud at depths of over 2,000 feet. Hagfishes do not migrate to
freshwater to spawn. Development is direct.

2. Eptatretus (= Bdellostoma):

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Bdellostoma (Fig. 12.2) is also commonly known as hagfish. It is found buried in the bottom
mud of sea. It occurs off the Pacific coasts of both North and South America, South Africa
and New Zealand. The long eel-like body has a soft smooth integument without scales. It is
about one metre in length. The mouth is terminal surrounded by soft lips. Buccal funnel and
jaws are absent. Four pairs of short tentacles supported by skeletal rods are present on the
lateral sides of the mouth.

The single nostril lies very close to the mouth and opens terminally. Single pineal eye is
present on the top of the head. Paired eyes are vestigial or degenerated due to the bottom
dwelling habit. The gill-openings are 6-14 in number which all open independently to the
exterior by round pores. The opening of pharyngocutaneous duct lies behind the last gill-slit
of left side.
It opens into the pharynx. The median fin is confined to the caudal region. Large slime or
mucous glands are present opening by mucous pores on both sides of the body.
Hermaphroditic. Single ovotestis, the anterior part being ovary and the posterior testis. It is
parasitic or quasi-parasitic. Nocturnal feeders. During the day time they live buried in the sea
bottom mud.

Affinities of Cyclostomes:

Cyclostomes are evidently chordate. They are primitive vertebrates. Their ammocoete larva
resembles in most characters with that of Branchiostoma, which shows primitive relationship.
Whereas, adult cyclostomes possess specialised as well as degenerate characteristics.

I. Primitive Characters of Cyclostomes:

(A) Characters Resembling those of Amphioxus:
1. Absence of jaws, exoskeleton and paired fins.
2. Continuous notochord (but with an added sheath).
3. Segmental musculature (myotomes) but little modified from head to tail.
4. Ciliated alimentary tract straight and without much regional specialisation.
5. Relatively large numbers of gill-slits.
6. Endostyle in lamprey larva.
7. Gonads without gonoducts.
Besides these, the ammocoete larva of lampreys resembles Amphioxus as follows:
1. Fish-like body.
2. Oral hood anterior to mouth.
3. Continuous dorsal and caudal fins.
4. Ciliated digestive tract.
5. Filter feeding habit and
6. Endostyle functions in feeding.

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(B) Characters more Primitive than in Fishes (Differences from Fishes):
1. No biting jaws, Scales, true teeth, true fin rays, girdles, ribs, stomach, spleen and
gonoducts.
2. Continuous median dorsal fin.
3. Diphycercal caudal fin.
4. Single median nostril, instead of paired.
5. Cranium incomplete or poorly developed.
6. No vertebrae or poorly developed vertebrae.
7. Rudimentary pancreas.
8. No spinal valve, or only slightly developed spiral valve, in intestine.
9. Brain relatively small or generalised.
10. Ninth and tenth cranial nerves not enclosed in the cranium. Absence of medullated
nerves.
11. Sympathetic nervous system very primitive and poorly developed.
12. Heart a rather loosely twisted S-shaped tube without conus arteriosus.
13. Lateral line organs poorly developed and in isolated pits.
14. Hypophysial duct rather large, open to the exterior and not connected with the pituitary
body.

(C) Affinities with Ostracoderms:

Cephalaspids and anaspids are fossil agnathans that show similarity to the modem
cyclostomes than pteraspids (Neterostraci or Pteraspida). Ostracoderms belonging to
Ordovician are the Oldest fossil vertebrates. They were abundant in Silurian period and
become extinct in Devonian. Probably they were the forerunners of higher fishes.
The fossil ostracoderms and present cyclostomes are kept in Agnatha due to the following
similarities:
1. Presence of a median pineal eye.
2. Presence of velar pump-like lamprey.
3. Endostyle sac-like.
4. Single nasal opening though nasal sacs are paired.
5. Brain is like that of lamprey.
6. Two semicircular canals in the ear.
7. Dorsal and ventral nerve roots separate up to 15.
8. Pairs of branchial pouches surrounded by a branchial basket.
9. Continuous uncostricted notochord.
10. Absence of jaws.
Stensio holds that the pteraspids have given rise to the myxinoids, and the cephalaspids to the
lampreys. The Agnatha were the first animals of the chordate type to become large. They
feed on detritus on the bottom. The lampreys and hagfishes have been derived from early
Agnatha by the evolution of a sucking mouth, perhaps with loss of the bony skeleton and
paired limbs.
II. Specialised Characters:
1. Sucking mouth buccal funnel and horny teeth (in lampreys) for attachment.
2. Powerful tongue armed with sharp horny teeth works as a rasping organ.
3. Secretion of anticoagulants in saliva to feed on blood of prey.
4. Sac-like gill-pouches. Located far behind head. It is probably an adaptation to burrowing.
5. Complete separation of lower sac-like respiratory pharynx from upper digestive pharynx.
6. Water entering gill-pouches and also leaving them through external gill openings and not
through mouth.
7. In hagfishes, presence of large mucus secreting mucous glands.

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8. Dorsal position of nostril on head in lampreys.
9. Large, heavy-yolked egg, with meroblastic cleavage and no larval stage in hags.

III. Degenerate Characters:

1. Simple elongated eel-like body more marked in hags. Whereas ostracoderms body is broad
fish-like.
2. Rudimentary paired eyes covered by thick skin in hags.
3. Lack of exoskeleton or bony armour.
4. Absence of paired fins and girdles.
5. Lack of ossification of endoskeleton, it is cartilaginous.
6. Reduced liver and lack of gall-bladder and bile-duct in adult lamprey.

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