The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a freshwater fish belonging to the minnow family (Cyprinidae) of the order Cypriniformes. Native to India and South Asia, it is a popular aquarium fish, frequently sold under the trade name zebra danio (and thus often called a "tropical fish" although both tropical and subtropical).

1. University of Chakwal, Pakistan

2. Topic:Zebra Fish
Department of Zoology
Presented by: Komal Zahra
Roll no# UOC-BSZOL-F2020/035
BS Zoology
Session: 2020-2024
Subject: Ichthyology
Instructor Name: Dr. Syeda Nadia Ahmad

3. Introduction
 The zebrafish is one of the model
organisms for genetic and
 developmental studies.
 The scientific name of zebrafish is Danio
rerio
 The zebrafish (Danio rerio) Is a freshwater
fish
 it belongs to the minnow family,
Cyprinidae.
 Native to India and South Asia also found
in private ponds.
Fig.1 Zebra fish
https://images.app.goo.gl/dbRs3W4L
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4.  Zebrafish grow to maturity and are able breed
within 2 to 3 months.
 Got its common name from the presence of five
uniform and pigmented horizontal stripes on the
side of its body.
 Stripes of zebrafish are blue in colour and they
extend from the gill cover to the end of the caudal
fin.
 Zebrafish has been used for biomedicine and
developmental biology. (Metscher, B. D., &
Ahlberg, P. E. 2014).
Fig.2 Zebra fish
https://images.app.goo.gl/vH5GGVrc4G
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5. Taxnomy:
 Domain: Eukaryota
 Kingdom: Animalia
 Phylum: Chordata
 Class: Actinopterygii
 Order: Cypriniformes
 Family: Cyprinidae
 Subfamily: Danioninae
 Genus: Danio
 Species: D. rerio

6.  Binomial Names:
 Barilius rerio
 Cyprinus chapalio
 Brachydanio rerio
 Cyprinus rerio
 Danio lineatus
 Nuria rerio
 Perilampus striatus (Broughton, R.,2016)

7. General Characteristics:
 Body Shape:Its shape is fusiform and laterally compressed,
 Mouth Shape: Mouth directed upwards.
 Tail: Forked tail
 Fins: Dorsal, pectoral, pelvic,Anal, Cadual
 Type of scales:Elasmoid scales

8. Meristic Characterstics:
 Feeder: Zebrafish are primarily carnivorous ( zooplankton, insect larvae,
and small crustaceans in the wild)
 Migrate: they don’t migrate in the same sense as some other species.
 Growth rate:The growth rate of zebrafish can vary depending on factors
such as genetics, environment, and diet.
 Life span: 2 to 3 years
 Weight: between 0.1 to 0.5 grams
 Natural predators: (predatory cichlids, snakes, birds, and aquatic
insects.)

9.  Fin formula:
 Dorsal fin rays: 8 to 9.
 Pectoral fins rays: 11-12 rays.
 Pelvic fin rays: 6-7 rays.
 Anal fin rays: 8 to 9.
 Cadual fin rays: 15 or more rays.
 Lateral Line scales: 32-35

10. Distribution:
 Native to India and South Asia also found in private ponds.
 Countries such as India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, and Pakistan.
 Slow-moving or stagnant waters, including streams, ponds, ditches,
and rice paddies.
 Often found in shallow waters with sandy or muddy substrates and
dense aquatic vegetation.
 Zebrafish have been introduced to various parts of the world beyond
their native range. (Broughton, R.,2016)

11. Importance of Zebra fish:
 Economic Importance of Zebra fish:
 Indicator Species
 Prey Species
 Control of Insect Populations:
 Nutrient Cycling
 Seed Dispersal
 Biodiversity Maintenance:
 Research on Aquatic Ecology.(Tavares, B., & Lopes, S.,2019).

12.  Biological importance of Zebra fish:
 Genetic Similarity to Humans
 Embryonic Development
 Regenerative Abilities
 Drug Discovery and Toxicology
 Neuroscience
 Cardiovascular Research
 Cancer Research
 Environmental Biology .(Tavares, B., & Lopes, S.,2019).

13. Interesting or Unique facts about Zebra fish:
 Origin and Habitat
 Distinctive Stripes
 Genetic Optical Clarity
 Regenerative Abilities
 Social Behavior
 Drug Discover
 Developmental Biology
 Environmental Sensitivity
 Educational Tool
 Short Reproduction Cycle
 Optogenetics.( Pritchard, V. L. 2017).

14. Morphology of Zebra fish:
 Mouth:
 The mouth of zebrafish is located
ventrally and is terminal,
 Zebrafish have well-defined lips
surrounding the mouth opening,
 Zebrafish possess two sets of jaws –
the upper and lower jaws, which are
lined with small, pointed teeth
Fig.3 Zebra fish Mouth
https://images.app.goo.gl/W8n3vfjjizGn
dD1SA

15.  Oral cavity
 Zebrafish have pharyngeal teeth located at the back of the throat.
 Along the inner side of the gill arches, zebrafish have gill rakers
 Zebrafish mouths are adapted for omnivorous feeding habits

16.  Scales:
 The zebrafish, Danio rerio, has a
streamlined body covered in overlapping
scales called dermal scales.
 These scales are composed of bone-like
material called dentin covered by a thin
layer of enamel.
 the coloration and patterning of the scales
vary between different strains and
individuals
Fig.4 Zebra fish scales
https://images.app.goo.gl/JNzo62
8RBCGFkEi5A

17.  Fins:
 Caudal Fin (Tail Fin)
 Dorsal Fins
 Anal Fins
 Pelvic Fins
 Pectoral Fins Fig.5 Zebrafish fins
https://images.app.goo.gl/ZQiHfgxQP6iHZz
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18. Behavior:
 Migratory Behavior:
 In the wild, they migrate in response to environmental cues such as
temperature changes, photoperiod, and food availability.
 These migrations are essential for their survival and reproduction.
 Zebrafish larvae, for example, may migrate towards warmer waters or
areas with higher food abundance.
 (Spence, R., Gerlach, G.,2019)

19.  Parental Behavior:
 caring for their eggs and offspring.
 After spawning, the male fertilizes the eggs.
 role in guarding and maintaining the nest.
 fan the eggs with their fins to ensure proper oxygenation and remove
debris.
 defend the nest against potential (Spence, R., Gerlach, G.,2019)

20. Recent research findings:
 Genetic Studies
 Disease Modeling
 Drug Screening
 Neuroscience
 Regenerative Medicine
 Environmental Studies(Spence, R., Gerlach, G.,2019)

21. References:
 Metscher, B. D., & Ahlberg, P. E. (2014). Zebrafish in context: uses of a
laboratory model in comparative studies. Developmental biology, 210(1),
1-14.
 Broughton, R. E., Milam, J. E., & Roe, B. A. (2016). The complete
sequence of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) mitochondrial genome and
evolutionary patterns in vertebrate mitochondrial DNA. Genome
research, 11(11), 1958-1967.
 Spence, R., Fatema, M. K., Reichard, M., Huq, K. A., Wahab, M. A.,
Ahmed, Z. F., & Smith, C. (2018). The distribution and habitat
preferences of the zebrafish in Bangladesh. Journal of fish biology, 69(5),
1435-1448.

22.  Tavares, B., & Lopes, S. S. (2019). The importance of Zebrafish in
biomedical research. Acta medica portuguesa, 26(5), 583-592.
 Spence, R., Gerlach, G., Lawrence, C., & Smith, C. (2019). The
behaviour and ecology of the zebrafish, Danio rerio. Biological reviews,
83(1), 13-34.
 Pritchard, V. L. (2016). Behaviour and morphology of the zebrafish,
Danio rerio (Doctoral dissertation, University of Leeds).
 Brittijn, S. A., Duivesteijn, S. J., Belmamoune, M., Bertens, L. F., Bitter,
W., De Bruijn, J. D., … & Richardson, M. K. (2018). Zebrafish
development and regeneration: new tools for biomedical research.
International Journal of Developmental Biology, 53(5-6), 835-850.