FW 315: Ichthyology

Course Overview

Explore the remarkable diversity of fishes and the evolutionary adaptations that allow them to thrive in aquatic environments around the world. From lampreys to sharks to bony fishes, this course examines how physiology, morphology, behavior, reproduction, evolution, and biogeography shape fish diversity and ecological success.

Through hands-on work with real specimens—including field sampling, live observation, preserved specimens, 3-D anatomical models, and dissection—you will analyze fish anatomy and identify species using anatomical features and taxonomic keys, with particular attention to fishes of the Oregon Coast. Along the way, you’ll explore how scientists classify and compare fishes while building practical skills in field observation, specimen analysis, and comparative anatomy.

Visit the Schedule of Classes for more information and to register.

Course Activities

Students will gain hands-on experience in both the field and lab, including:

• Explore Oregon’s coastal habitats to sample, observe, and identify local marine and estuarine fish species

• Examine fish anatomy through dissections to understand structure and function

• Compare bony and cartilaginous fishes to highlight key evolutionary and ecological differences

• Design a fish that doesn’t exist — but could — using what you’ve learned about anatomy, physiology, and ecology to explain how its adaptations help it survive and reproduce in a chosen habitat.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to examine an unfamiliar fish and infer how it feeds, moves, reproduces, and may respond to environmental change.