Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
Caudal/Tail fins: Also called the tail fins, caudal fins are attached to the end of the caudal peduncle and used for propulsion. The caudal peduncle is the narrow part of the fish's body. The hypural joint is the joint between the caudal fin and the last of the vertebrae. The hypural is often fan-shaped.
A fish can have up to three dorsal fins. The dorsal fins serve to protect the fish against rolling, and assist it in sudden turns and stops. In anglerfish, the anterior of the dorsal fin is modified into an illicium and esca, a biological equivalent to a fishing rod and lure; The bones that support the dorsal fin are called pterygiophores.
The shape, size, position and colour of the dorsal fin varies with the type of billfish, and can be a simple way to identify a billfish species. For example, the white marlin has a dorsal fin with a curved front edge and is covered with black spots. [4] The huge dorsal fin, or sail, of the sailfish is kept retracted most of the time. Sailfish ...
Fins located on the median line of the fish; the dorsal, anal and caudal fins. mediolateral Between the middle and the sides. melanophore A cell (chromatophore) containing melanin or other black pigment. mesocoracoid A bone of the pectoral arch or shoulder girdle. mesopelagic Refers to the region of the open ocean between 200 m and 1000 m in depth.
This means the fish has 14 spiny rays (bones) in the first part of its dorsal fin (D), followed by 10 soft rays. A is the anal fin, P represents the pectoral fins (near the gills and eyes), V represents the ventral or pelvic fins, and C is the caudal fin or tail (not indicated in this example). GR means gill raker count (see below).
Their gill covers have no spines and are covered with small scales. Their two dorsal fins are widely separated, with the anterior fin having five spines, and the posterior fin having one spine and nine soft rays. The posterior dorsal fin is similar in size to the anal fin and is situated above it.
The anal fin contains 1–4 spines anteriorly and 20–39 soft rays with their height, direction, origin, and terminus mirroring those of the soft dorsal fin. Along the belly are a series of spinous scutes—scales modified into hard, bony plates—forming an armoured ventral keel. Similar scutes also cover the base of the dorsal and anal fins.
The dorsal, anal and caudal fins are fused and pelvic fins are lacking. Dorsal fin begins mid body creating a long continuous fin where in other species it begins more posterior and is not as prominent in length. Their body movement depends highly on undulation originating near the anterior axial end.