This volume presents a systematic survey of fishes, combining anatomical description, classification, fossil records, life histories, and species accounts. It treats ancient ganoid groups and diverse teleost orders, detailing families such as garpikes, bowfins, salmonids, eels, ostariophysans, catfishes, and lanternfishes, among others, with notes on development, reproduction, and distribution. Chapters explain morphological features used in classification, illustrate representative species, and discuss paleontological evidence and hatchery and fisheries practices where relevant. Emphasis falls on comparative morphology and taxonomy, supported by numerous figures and plates to aid identification and study.