A modification of the anal fin of males of certain live-bearing species in the family
Goodeidae. It is used to transfer reproductive products to the female during mating.
ankylosed
Grown firmly together.
anterior
Relating to the front portion.
antrose
Turned forward.
approximate
Placed close together.
asperity
Roughness of surface.
asymmetrical
Without symmetry.
attenuate
Tapering to a point, usually in reference to a tail.
axillary
Pertaining to the axilla or upper angle of the
pectoral fin.
axillary process
An enlarged, pointed scale projecting from the insertion of the pectoral or pelvic fin.
The "unfolding" of a protein resulting in a lessening of its biological properties. In the case of some fish toxins, denaturing with hot water can lessen painful symptoms.
dentate
Having tooth-like projections.
denticle, denticulate
A little tooth, having an edge with small projecting teeth, the
placoid scales of cartilaginous fishes.
depressed
Flattened from top to bottom.
dermal
Pertaining to the skin.
dewlap
A fold of loose skin.
disc
The flattened head and body of various fishes such as stingrays, which also commonly includes the pectoral and ventral fins.
A small, fleshy tube behind the anus in some fishes, from which the sperm or eggs are released; the sex of a fish often can be determined by the shape of its
papilla.
A modification of the anal fin of males of certain live-bearing species in the families
Anablepidae and
Poeciliidae. It is used to transfer reproductive products to the female during mating.
gravid
Sexually ripe.
gular region
Pertaining to the region behind the chin and between the sides of the lower jaw.
H
head length
The distance from the tip of the snout (or upper lip) to the most posterior point of the opercular margin.
The posterior part of the dorsal fin which is composed of jointed rays.
spatulate
Shovel-like; having a broad, flat, and rounded shape.
spine
A sharp projecting point; an unjointed support in the anterior portions of the dorsal and anal fins.
spinous, spiniform, spinate
Spine-like or composed of spines.
spinous dorsal
The anterior part of the dorsal fin supported by spines.
spiracles
Respiratory openings behind the eyes in sharks and rays.
standard length (SL)
The length of a fish measured from the tip of the snout to the posterior extremity of the hypurals, the expanded bones at the end of the backbone that support the caudal fin.
submarginal
Almost at the edge.
suborbital
Below the eye.
superior
Above or on the upper surface.
supracleithrum
The bone forming a connection between the back of the skull and the pectoral girdle.
supralateral
Above the side.
supramaxillary
A supplemental bone lying along the upper edge of the maxillary.
supraocular
Positioned above the eye.
supraorbital
Above the eye.
supraorbital tentacle
A flap or filament of skin positioned above the eye.
suprascapular
A bone uniting the shoulder girdle with the skull.
A larval stage of
butterflyfish and
scats in which the larva is armoured with large bony plates which extend onto the body from the head, the head also being enclosed in bony armour which is frequently silvery in colour. The tholichthys armour plates are lost as the larva metamorphoses into the juvenile stage.
A modification of the anal fin of males of certain live-bearing species in the family
Goodeidae. It is used to transfer reproductive products to the female during mating.
ankylosed
Grown firmly together.
anterior
Relating to the front portion.
antrose
Turned forward.
approximate
Placed close together.
asperity
Roughness of surface.
asymmetrical
Without symmetry.
attenuate
Tapering to a point, usually in reference to a tail.
axillary
Pertaining to the axilla or upper angle of the
pectoral fin.
axillary process
An enlarged, pointed scale projecting from the insertion of the pectoral or pelvic fin.
The "unfolding" of a protein resulting in a lessening of its biological properties. In the case of some fish toxins, denaturing with hot water can lessen painful symptoms.
dentate
Having tooth-like projections.
denticle, denticulate
A little tooth, having an edge with small projecting teeth, the
placoid scales of cartilaginous fishes.
depressed
Flattened from top to bottom.
dermal
Pertaining to the skin.
dewlap
A fold of loose skin.
disc
The flattened head and body of various fishes such as stingrays, which also commonly includes the pectoral and ventral fins.
A small, fleshy tube behind the anus in some fishes, from which the sperm or eggs are released; the sex of a fish often can be determined by the shape of its
papilla.
A modification of the anal fin of males of certain live-bearing species in the families
Anablepidae and
Poeciliidae. It is used to transfer reproductive products to the female during mating.
gravid
Sexually ripe.
gular region
Pertaining to the region behind the chin and between the sides of the lower jaw.
H
head length
The distance from the tip of the snout (or upper lip) to the most posterior point of the opercular margin.
The posterior part of the dorsal fin which is composed of jointed rays.
spatulate
Shovel-like; having a broad, flat, and rounded shape.
spine
A sharp projecting point; an unjointed support in the anterior portions of the dorsal and anal fins.
spinous, spiniform, spinate
Spine-like or composed of spines.
spinous dorsal
The anterior part of the dorsal fin supported by spines.
spiracles
Respiratory openings behind the eyes in sharks and rays.
standard length (SL)
The length of a fish measured from the tip of the snout to the posterior extremity of the hypurals, the expanded bones at the end of the backbone that support the caudal fin.
submarginal
Almost at the edge.
suborbital
Below the eye.
superior
Above or on the upper surface.
supracleithrum
The bone forming a connection between the back of the skull and the pectoral girdle.
supralateral
Above the side.
supramaxillary
A supplemental bone lying along the upper edge of the maxillary.
supraocular
Positioned above the eye.
supraorbital
Above the eye.
supraorbital tentacle
A flap or filament of skin positioned above the eye.
suprascapular
A bone uniting the shoulder girdle with the skull.
A larval stage of
butterflyfish and
scats in which the larva is armoured with large bony plates which extend onto the body from the head, the head also being enclosed in bony armour which is frequently silvery in colour. The tholichthys armour plates are lost as the larva metamorphoses into the juvenile stage.