A
|
The number of elements in the anal fin, often comprising spines (Roman numerals) and soft rays (Arabic numerals).
|
abyssal
|
at or near the deepsea floor, usually below 2000 m
|
AC
|
The ventral series of photophores behind the anal-fin origin
|
ACA
|
the first part of the ventral series of photophores behind the anal-fin origin
|
ACB
|
Second part of the ventral series of photophores behind the anal-fin origin
|
ACC
|
the third section in ventral series of photophores posterior to the anal-fin origin
|
accessory lateral line
|
a branch of the lateral line following the dorsal outline of the body just below the dorsal-fin base
|
actiniarians
|
sea anemones; short, broad tubular invertebrates
usually attached to rocky substrates at the base, with the free end encircled by
tentacles; members of the cnidarian class Anthozoa and order Actiniaria.
|
adherent
|
not easily dislodged; firmly attached; non-deciduous
|
adipose
|
fatty or fleshy tissue
|
adipose eyelid
|
a thick, mostly transparent tissue that partly or wholly covers the eye
|
adipose fin
|
a small fleshy fin, without fin rays, usually situated behind the dorsal or anal fins
|
adnate
|
joined together
|
adpressed
|
pressed against the body.
|
adult
|
sexually mature.
|
aestivate
|
spend periods of drought in a torpid state, usually
in summer, or during long periods of dryness.
|
aggregate
|
group together.
|
alar
|
wing-like shape, often referring to the region of the pectoral
fins or the central portions of the fused pectorals and head in rays.
|
ammocoete
|
filter-feeding freshwater larval stage of lampreys with
reduced eyes.
|
amphibians
|
primitive vertebrates, including frogs and salamanders,
living in water and on land.
|
Amphidromous
|
fishes which migrate between fresh water and the sea (or vice versa) at some stage in their life cycle.
|
amphipod
|
a sand hopper; a small crustacean of the order Amphipoda
usually with a compressed shrimp-like body.
|
amphitemperate
|
occurring in temperate environments in both the
Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
|
Anadromy
|
a widespread migratory life history in fishes where spawning occurs in fresh water and individuals migrate to the sea as juveniles and adults
|
anal fin
|
the unpaired fin situated on the lower surface of the
body behind the anus.
|
anal ring
|
in the Syngnathidae, last trunk ring bearing the anus.
|
anal spine
|
a spine at the origin of the anal fin before the soft
rays.
|
Ant
|
light organ anterodorsal to eye.
|
anterior(ly) (adj. anteriormost comb. antero)
|
relating to the
front or head end of the body
|
anterolateral: to the front and side.| anteroposterior
|
from the front end to the rear end.
|
anti-equatorial
|
away from the equator in both the Northern and
Southern Hemispheres.
|
Antipodean
|
relating to the region of Australia and New Zealand.
|
antitropical
|
those parts of the tropics away from the equator
in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
|
anus (adj. anal)
|
external opening of the digestive system for
expelling body wastes
|
AO
|
ventral series of photophores comprising AOa + AOp.
|
AOa
|
ventral series of photophores above anal fin.
|
AOp
|
ventral series of photophores just posterior to anal fin.
|
AOP
|
preorbital light organ anteroventral to eye.
|
apex (pl. apices)
|
the tip or end.
|
AR
|
anal ring.
|
armoured
|
having an armour-like, rigid and often jointed protective
external covering.
|
articulate (ing)
|
united by a movable joint.
|
ascidian
|
a sea squirt; a soft, leathery-bodied invertebrate of the tunicate class Ascidiacea (chordates), often resembling simple barrel-shaped sponges.
|
aspect
|
view.
|
assemblage
|
grouping, often in a relationship sense (eg a group
of organisms sharing a common ancestor).
|
asymmetrical
|
not symmetrical.
|
atriopore
|
the rear opening to the atrium or cavity, through which
water is circulated in lancelets
|
attenuate
|
slender.
|
auditory
|
pertaining to hearing.
|
austral
|
southern.
|
axial muscles
|
muscles in the axis of the body (running from the
front end to the rear end).
|
axil, axilla
|
the angle formed by the inner edge of a fin and the body at the point of attachment of the fin to the body
|
axillary process
|
a small scale-like or fleshy projection at the
axil of the pectoral or ventral fins
|
axillary tissue
|
epidermal, and sometimes dermal, scale-like feature
on the posterior side of the pectoral- or ventral-fin base.
|
axis
|
imaginary line around which a body or structure is symmetrically
arranged.
|
ballast water
|
water taken in by a vessel to provide stability
when operating in the open ocean, usually held within tanks constructed low in the
hull for that purpose.
|
band (adj. banded)
|
vertical strip of colour.
|
bar
|
band.
|
barb (adj. barbed)
|
secondary backward-projecting point, as on
a fish hook; also a serrated, spear-like, structure, as on the tail of some rays
|
barbel
|
a fleshy, tentacle-like structure on the head (often near
the mouth) of some fishes
|
basal(ly)
|
at or near the base.
|
basibranchial
|
one of several median cartilaginous or bony structures
in the branchial arch behind the tongue.
|
basketwork
|
arranged in a cross-hatch pattern, resembling the pattern
of a wicker basket.
|
bathyal
|
pertaining to or living on the sea floor at a depth range of 200-4000 metres, on the continental slope and rise.
|
bathydemersal
|
Living and feeding on the bottom below 200 m
|
bathypelagic
|
free swimming in ocean depths of 1000 to 4000m, but
not close to the bottom.
|
batteries
|
cellular structure capable of supplying electrical discharges.
|
beak
|
horny projecting jaws, as in birds.
|
benthic
|
living on the sea floor.
|
benthopelagic
|
free swimming near the sea floor.
|
BI
|
section of the lateral line canal from behind the head to the
base of the tail.
|
bicuspid
|
referring to a tooth with two cusps or points.
|
bifid bifurcate
|
divided into two parts.
|
bilateral
|
on both sides.
|
bill
|
slender, sword-like anterior extension of either the upper
or lower jaw.
|
bilobed bilobate
|
having two lobes.
|
binomial
|
having two names, or parts to a name.
|
biogeographical
|
relating to distributions determined by historical
events and biological tolerances of organisms.
|
bioluminescence (adj. bioluminescent)
|
light produced chemically
by living organisms, including fishes, where chemical energy is transformed into
light energy.
|
biomass
|
total quantity or weight of organisms in a given area.
|
biotone
|
area of overlap between adjacent natural ranges of geographical
distribution or 'provinces' around the continent
|
biserial
|
occurring in two regular series.
|
BL
|
body length.
|
blind side
|
the side of body in flatfishes without eyes - the underside.
|
body depth
|
maximum vertical distance between the dorsal and ventral
profiles of the body unless a specific location is provided (eg. 'at dorsal-fin
origin').
|
body length
|
overall length of a fish expressed as 'fork
length', 'standard length', 'total length', or as in the
billfishes, 'body length' (direct measurement from the anterior tip of
lower jaw to hind margin of caudal fin at its centre
|
Br
|
3 photophores on branchiostegal membranes.
|
BR
|
series of photophores on branchiostegal membranes.
|
branched ray
|
a soft fin-ray that is divided into two or more parts
at its free (unattached) end.
|
branchial
|
pertaining to the gills.
|
branchial length
|
distance from the front of the first to the front
of the last gill aperture.
|
branchial slime pores
|
slime pores in immediate association with
the gill aperture or apertures.
|
branchiostegal ray
|
each of the bony rays supporting the gill (branchiostegal)
membranes behind the lower jaw.
|
breast
|
area of the body below the pectoral fins.
|
brood pouch
|
pouch in the body where eggs are deposited and held
until hatching.
|
bryozoan
|
primitive colonial invertebrate with a calcareous skeleton,
often resembling an encrustation, or a three-dimensional structure resembling coral.
|
buccal
|
inside of the mouth.
|
buckler
|
bony plate or plates, sometimes bearing spines, on the
bodies of some fishes.
|
bulbous
|
swollen or rounded in shape.
|
bycatch
|
non-commercial component of fisheries' catch.
|
C
|
number of principal fin rays in the caudal fin, frequently equalling the number of branched rays + 2.
|
caecum (pl. caecae)
|
see 'pyloric caecum'.
|
canine tooth
|
a long conical tooth in the mouth, adapted for grasping
prey.
|
caniniform
|
having the form of canine teeth.
|
capsule
|
surrounding envelope, often protective.
|
carapace
|
rigid covering encasing the body.
|
cartilage (adj. cartilaginous)
|
soft and flexible gristle-like
material that helps to provide structural support for the body.
|
caruncle
|
fleshy outgrowth.
|
Catadromy
|
A type of migration where fish spawn in marine habitats and migrate to freshwater as juveniles and adults.
|
catchment
|
series of more or less interconnected creeks, streams
and rivers draining a geographical area.
|
caudal
|
referring to the tail region.
|
caudal filament
|
slender prolongation of caudal-fin ray or membrane.
|
caudal fin
|
tail fin.
|
caudal peduncle
|
part of the body between the end of the anal fin
base and the base of the caudal fin.
|
caudal peduncle depth
|
least vertical distance between the upper
and lower profiles of the caudal peduncle.
|
caudal peduncle length
|
oblique distance between the base of the
last anal-fin ray and the hind end of the hypural plates.
|
caudal vertebra(e)
|
those vertebrae in the vertebral column, posterior
to the abdominal cavity, which possess a haemal spine (at least on the anteriormost).
|
Caulerpa
|
green macroalgae, often with
fleshy 'leafs' in a variety of forms.
|
Ce
|
photophore above posterior edge of preopercle.
|
cephalic lateralis canal
|
portion of the laterosensory system on
the head, partially surrounded in some areas by superficial elements of the skull.
|
cephalopod
|
cuttlefish, octopus and squid; representatives of the
specialised mollusc class Cephalopoda.
|
cheek
|
area between the eye and the free edge of the preopercular
bone.
|
chevron-shaped
|
having the shape of a bent bar or inverted V.
|
chitin (adj. chitinous)
|
horny exoskeleton, like that of insects
and crustaceans.
|
Chordate
|
Animals, either vertebrates, hagfish or several closely-related invertebrates – all with a notochord, a hollow dorsal nerve cord, gill slits in the pharynx and a tail at some stage during their life cycle.
|
ciliate
|
having many fine hair-like structures.
|
circumglobal
|
around the world.
|
circumnarial groove
|
groove around the nostrils.
|
circumorbital
|
pertaining to the region immediately encircling
each eye, especially the series of bones forming the bony orbital rim and enclosing
a portion of the laterosensory canal.
|
circumtropical
|
around the world at tropical latitudes.
|
cirrus (pl. cirri)
|
small, thin, tentacle-like or flap-like appendage
that may be subdivided into branches.
|
CITES
|
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
|
clade
|
natural grouping containing all descendants of a common
ancestor.
|
clasper
|
specialised structures of male cartilaginous fishes that
facilitate breeding, most frequently referring to the tubular modified part of each
ventral fin,used to transmit sperm during copulation.
|
clavus
|
rudder-like structure replacing the caudal fin at the posterior
end of the body in sunfishes (Molidae).
|
cleithral spine
|
spine at the dorsal end of the cleithrum, usually
prominent when present and directed posteriorly.
|
cleithrum
|
major bone providing the basal support for the pectoral
girdle and fin.
|
cloaca
|
common opening to the exterior for the digestive, reproductive
and urinary tracts in some fishes.
|
cm
|
centimetre(s).
|
CO
|
circumorbital pores.
|
cockscomb
|
crest on the head of a male chicken.
|
colonial
|
aggregate, connected or living together in close proximity.
|
commensal
|
referring to an organism that lives with or on another
but neither at the expense of the other; living in a mutually beneficial relationship.
|
complete
|
in entirety, uninterrupted.
|
compressed
|
flattened from side to side.
|
confluent
|
joined together, continuous.
|
congener
|
belonging to the same genus.
|
conical
|
cone-shaped.
|
contiguous
|
adjoining; next in order.
|
continental shelf
|
gently sloping sea bed extending from the shore
to a depth of about 200m.
|
continental slope
|
rather steeply sloping sea bed extending from
the outer margin of the continental shelf to a depth of about 2000m.
|
continuous
|
unbroken; often a fin or lateral line that is not divided
into two or more parts.
|
convergent
|
evolution of similar characters in unrelated taxonomic
groups, eg fin-like structures in fishes and whales.
|
co-occur
|
occur together.
|
copepod
|
small, often tiny crustaceans of the subclass Copepoda
having a wide variety of body shapes.
|
copulatory
|
associated with the physical act of reproduction of
male and female.
|
coronal pore
|
cephalic sensory canal pore on the dorsal midline
of the head at the centre of the coronal commissure joining the canals dorsoposteriorly
on either side above the eyes.
|
coronal spine
|
spine(s) above and behind the eyes at the anterior
edge of the occipital pit, originating from the posterior ends of the interorbital
ridges.
|
corselet
|
band of specialised scales encircling the pectoral region
of the body.
|
cosmopolitan
|
occurring everywhere.
|
countershading
|
colour pattern of fishes in the water column that are dark-coloured on top but light-coloured on the bottom, effectively to obscure the outline of the fish to predators by blending with the dark sea floor when viewed from above and the light sky when viewed from below.
|
couplet
|
pair of contrasting statements presented in identification keys that assists the reader in reaching an identification.
|
cranial cranium
|
portion of the skull enclosing the brain; neurocranium.
|
craniate
|
group including all animals with a cranium (a cartilaginous or bony skull) enclosing a well-developed brain.
|
crenulate
|
with the margin in the shape of small, rounded notches.
|
crescent-shaped
|
shaped like the moon in the first or last quarter.
|
crest
|
elevated ridge, especially on a bone surface.
|
cross band
|
band of colour, usually fully traversing the structure.
|
crossbar
|
cross band.
|
cross-section
|
transverse section.
|
crown
|
top part, especially the head; in the form of a monarch's crown.
|
crumenal organ
|
small pouch-like structure behind the fourth gill arch in which gill rakers from both sides interdigitate for breaking up food particles.
|
crustacean(s)
|
each of a group of invertebrate animals that have external skeletons with jointed appendages; includes crabs, prawns, crayfish, etc.
|
cryptic
|
camouflaged; well hidden.
|
cteni
|
minute spines.
|
ctenoid (scale)
|
scale in which the hind margin and often the exposed lateral surface bears minute spines, giving the body a rough feeling.
|
ctenophores
|
comb jellies; free-swimming invertebrates of the small phylum Ctenophora, usually with a clear gelatinous body somewhat resembling jelly fish (medusoid coelenterates).
|
cunjevoi
|
sea squirt, attached invertebrate (ascidian) resembling a leathery sponge.
|
cusp
|
small point or projection on a tooth.
|
cusplet
|
small cusp, often at the base of a larger central cusp.
|
cutaneous folds
|
skin folds or ridges.
|
cycloid (scale)
|
scale in which the hind margin and exposed lateral surface is smooth.
|
D
|
number of elements in the dorsal fin, often comprising spines (Roman numerals) and soft rays (Arabic numerals).
|
deciduous
|
easily shed or rubbed off.
|
deepsea
|
away from inshore and surface waters, usually at depths with little or no light from the sky.
|
degenerate
|
said of a character or structure that has evolved from an advanced state to a less developed state.
|
demersal
|
living on or in association with the bottom of the sea.
|
dendritic organ
|
brush-like external organ adjacent to the anus in eeltail catfishes (Plotosidae), which is thought to have a salt-regulating function.
|
dentary
|
largest and most anterior of the bones on each side of the lower jaw, on which teeth are based.
|
denticle
|
tooth-like scale found on the bodies of sharks and rays.
|
denticulation denticulate (adj. denticular)
|
small tooth-like sculpturing.
|
dentition
|
teeth in the mouth.
|
depressed
|
flattened from top to bottom.
|
depressible
|
not fixed in an erect manner, capable of being rotated or bent down.
|
dermal
|
pertaining to the skin.
|
dermal flap
|
small skin flap.
|
dermal tentacle
|
fleshy outgrowth of the skin.
|
detritus (adj. detrital)
|
debris; broken, often abraded material, most frequently organic.
|
diagnosis
|
brief summary of characteristics that define a natural group (eg species, genus, family).
|
diagonal scale rows
|
oblique scale rows; regular arrangement of scales in slanted rows along the side of a fish's body usually counted above the lateral line, if present, from the edge of the operculum to the hypural edge.
|
dichotomous key
|
identification aid organised as a sequential series
of contrasting statements (couplets) pertaining to morphological structures and appearances present in the organism in question.
|
dichromatic
|
having two different colour forms.
|
Diel vertical migration (DVM)
|
a behaviour often documented in pelagic oceanic or lake-dwelling fishes, where individuals migrate from the deep waters to the epipelagic waters - usually at night
|
dimorphic, dimorphism
|
having two forms
|
disc
|
fused head, trunk and paired fins of some fishes, particularly sharks, skates and rays.
|
disjunct
|
not continuous, interrupted.
|
dispersal
|
moving outwards, frequently away from the place of origin.
|
distal
|
remote from the point of attachment.
|
distensible
|
capable of projecting or swelling outwards.
|
diurnally
|
of the daylight hours.
|
divergent diverging
|
proceeding in different directions.
|
diverticula
|
(in relation to pyloric caeca) an outpocketing or blind-ending tube from a cavity or blind sac.
|
Dn
|
light organ above nostril.
|
DNA
|
deoxyribonucleic acid, the blueprint of life in body cells.
|
dorsad
|
in a dorsal direction.
|
dorsal fin
|
unpaired fin extending along the midline of the back.
|
dorsal(ly) (comb. dorso-) adj.
|
relating to the upper surface or back.
|
dorsal-fin chambers
|
series of lymph compartments within the finfold surrounding the notochord on the dorsal side of the body.
|
dorsolateral
|
between the back and the middle of the side, the upper area of the side.
|
dorsoventral(ly)
|
stretching from the dorsal to the ventral surfaces.
|
dorsum
|
upper (dorsal) surface of the head or body.
|
drop-off
|
place of rapid increase in depth, like an underwater cliff face.
|
drumming
|
making low pitched beating sound.
|
duct
|
channel or tube for conveying a substance.
|
DW
|
disc width.
|
Ecklonia
|
macrophytic brown seaweed with fluted leathery fronds.
|
ectopterygoid
|
bone forming a forward part of the suspensorium, the ventral edge usually positioned laterally on the roof of the mouth and sometimes bearing teeth.
|
eddies
|
whirlpools, especially at the periphery of a major current.
|
eelgrass
|
<em>Zostera</em>, a marine green plant with long slender leaves.
|
efferent branchial duct
|
tube-like connection from the gill chamber to the gill opening to the exterior.
|
elasmobranch
|
pertaining to sharks and rays.
|
electric organ
|
structure capable of emitting electrical discharges through the surrounding water and which may be used to stun prey, to repel predators or as a radar-like device to detect objects under conditions of poor visibility.
|
electrosensory
|
capable of detecting electrical discharges.
|
elliptical
|
relating to an oval shape.
|
elongated
|
extended or drawn out.
|
elver
|
fully pigmented immature eel, resembling a small version of an adult.
|
emarginate
|
having a slightly concave, indented or forked margin or edge.
|
embayment
|
body of water enclosed into a bay.
|
embedded (scales spine)
|
completely covered with skin.
|
embryo (adj. embryonic)
|
offspring prior to birth.
|
encapsulate
|
enclose in a capsule.
|
encyst
|
enclose in a bladder-like sac.
|
endemic
|
occurring naturally only in a specific area.
|
endoskeleton
|
internal skeleton.
|
ephemeral
|
lasting for a markedly brief time.
|
epidermis (adj. epidermal)
|
outer surface layer of skin.
|
epipelagic
|
free swimming in the upper part of the open ocean from the surface to a depth of about 200m.
|
erectile
|
capable of being raised, as in the spines of some fishes.
|
esca (adj. escal)
|
lure or 'bait' on the end of the rod-like dorsal head appendage (illicium) of some anglerfishes and their relatives.
|
estuary (adj. estuarine)
|
portion of a river where it meets the sea and fresh and salt waters mingle or alternate.
|
euphausid
|
krill; shrimp-like crustacean that feeds on phytoplankton and often occurs in huge numbers.
|
euryhaline
|
the ability to live in a wide range of water salinity.
|
evert(ed)
|
turned outward or inside out.
|
exoskeleton
|
external skeleton.
|
extralimital
|
occurring outside one's normal distribution.
|
extremity
|
very end.
|
eye diameter
|
maximum diameter of the eye, frequently measured in a horizontal direction.
|
eyed side
|
the side of the body in adult flatfishes on which both eyes are located.
|
eyeshine
|
seemingly iridescent reflection of light in nocturnally active animals that have a special reflective layer associated with the retina.
|
falcate
|
curved or sickle-shaped.
|
fang
|
very elongated, slender canine.
|
fertilisation
|
fusion of the male and female reproductive cells.
|
filament (adj. filamentous)
|
thread-like.
|
filter-feeder
|
fish that obtains small particles of food (plankton) by filtering them out of the water, usually with numerous elongated and fine gill rakers.
|
fimbriate(d)
|
with the margin fringed, bordered with hairs.
|
fin
|
structure on the fish's body used for propelling or steering.
|
fin ray
|
bilaterally paired supporting element of a fin that is
often flexible, segmented and branched.
|
finfold
|
ridge on the body that is a precursor of, a remnant of, or a continuation of a fin.
|
fingerling
|
young or small fish.
|
finlet
|
small fin supported by a ray or rays, situated behind the dorsal and anal fins.
|
fisher
|
one who catches fish.
|
fixed
|
immovable.
|
FL
|
fork length.
|
flake
|
marketing name for cartilaginous fish, primarily sharks.
|
flange
|
projecting flat rim or edge, for strengthening or attachment.
|
flank
|
fleshy part of the side of the body between the ribs and
the caudal peduncle.
|
flats
|
bottom with broad level surface at shallow depth.
|
flattened teeth
|
compressed teeth; incisors.
|
flexed
|
bent.
|
flexure
|
curved, bent state.
|
flotsam
|
floating wreckage.
|
fluorescent
|
producing visible or invisible radiation.
|
fork length
|
length of a fish measured from the tip of the snout to the fork of the caudal fin.
|
forked
|
bifurcated, with diverging corners, the margin between concave to V-shaped.
|
fossa
|
shallow depression or cavity.
|
frill
|
ornamental edging.
|
fringe
|
ornamental boarder of thread-like skin.
|
frontal bones
|
pair of bones forming the roof of the brain case
anteriorly.
|
furrow
|
groove, long indentation.
|
fused
|
joined together as one.
|
fusiform
|
spindle-shaped; tapering towards each end.
|
gape
|
widely open mouth.
|
genital papilla(e)
|
small tube-like structure, situated behind the anus, from which sperm or eggs are released.
|
gestation
|
period of embryonic development between conception and birth.
|
gill
|
respiratory organ in fishes.
|
gill aperture
|
gill opening.
|
gill arch
|
bony or cartilaginous arch supporting the gills and
gill rakers.
|
gill cover
|
bony flap covering the gill chamber; the operculum.
|
gill membrane
|
skin on each side of the head, supported by branchiostegal rays, which is periodically drawn across the lower portion of the gill opening to enclose the gill chamber during respiration.
|
gill opening
|
opening behind the head from the gill chamber to the exterior.
|
gill raker
|
one of a number of bony finger-like structures on the anterior edges of the gill arches, for the straining of food or protection of gills; may range from tooth-like bumps to thread-like stiff filaments; rakers usually arranged in parallel inner (mesial) and outer (lateral) rows, the numbers in the lateral row of the anteriormost gill arch reported in descriptions unless otherwise stated.
|
gill raker rudiment
|
very short gill raker whose length is shorter than its width.
|
gill slit
|
gill opening; usually paired and positioned laterally or ventrally on the head.
|
gillnet
|
fishing net with mesh large enough that fish can push their head through the opening, but not their body, allowing them to be entangled by their gill covers.
|
girdle
|
see 'pectoral girdle' and 'pelvic girdle'
|
glass eel
|
juvenile eel with the shape of the adult, but not the pigmentation, remaining mostly transparent.
|
gnathostome
|
referring to the group of fishes having jaws.
|
gonad
|
reproductive organ (ovary or testes).
|
GR
|
number of gill rakers on the anterior face of the 1st gill arch, often presented as rakers on upper limb + rakers on lower limb, including raker at angle.
|
granular (granulation)
|
having the structure or surface of fine hard particles, eg. sand paper.
|
gravid
|
sexually ripe.
|
gular
|
pertaining to the region between the chin and isthmus.
|
gular plate
|
bony plate below the chin and between the sides of the lower jaw.
|
gut
|
lower alimentary tract, intestine.
|
haemal spine
|
ventrally directed spine on each caudal vertebra bridging the caudal artery and vein at its base.
|
Haemoglobin
|
An iron-containing compound found in the red blood cells of vertebrates (except the Family Channichthyidae), which transports oxygen around the body.
|
handline
|
simple hand-operated fishing line used without a rod and reel.
|
haremic
|
pertaining to a social group containing a dominant male and a number of subordinate females.
|
hastate
|
having the form of a triangular spearhead.
|
head depth
|
vertical distance between the upper and lower profiles of the head, often at a specified location, eg posterior margin of the eye.
|
head length
|
horizontal distance between the most anterior point on the snout or upper lip and the most distant point on the opercular membrane.
|
herbivorous
|
feeding on plant material.
|
hermaphrodite (adj. hermaphroditic)
|
having both male and female organs in the same body, although not necessarily developed functionally at the same time.
|
heterocercal
|
referring to a caudal fin in which the upper lobe is noticeably larger than the lower lobe.
|
high-latitude
|
latitude well away from the equator.
|
HL
|
head length.
|
Holarctic
|
the entire arctic region (in oceanography).
|
holdfast
|
attaching base of seaweed.
|
holotype
|
the single specimen designated or indicated as 'the type-specimen' of a nominal species-group taxon (species or subspecies) by the author at the time of the original publication (or the single specimen when no type was specified but only 1 specimen was present for the description).
|
humeral
|
pertaining to the shoulder.
|
humeral spine
|
cleithral spine.
|
hyaline
|
transparent, clear.
|
hybridise
|
produce offspring from different species.
|
hyoid
|
non-functional remnant of an anterior gill arch just posterior to the mandibular arch that has given rise to the lower jaw; provides a base for the chin barbel in stomiid fishes.
|
hyomandibular
|
major bone forming the rear part of the suspensorium.
|
hypobranchial
|
rather short bone providing the internal skeleton for the basal end of the lower limb of anterior gill arches.
|
hypural
|
the expanded and sometimes fused lower spine-like elements of the last few vertebrae that support the caudal fin.
|
IC
|
ventral series of photophores, comprising IP+PV+VAV+AC.
|
iliac pelvic spines
|
spine-like processes directed ventrolaterally from the lower end of the pelvic girdle.
|
illicium (adj. illicial)
|
slender and sometimes jointed appendage (fishing rod) on the head of anglerfishes and their relatives.
|
imbricate(d) imbricating
|
overlapping, as in roof shingles.
|
incised
|
having a notched margin (particularly with regard to a membrane).
|
incisor (adj. incisiform)
|
tooth with a flattened chisel-like tip, modified for cutting.
|
incubate
|
to maintain eggs at optimal environmental conditions for growth and development.
|
Indo-Pacific
|
of the Indian and Pacific oceans.
|
inferior mouth
|
ventrally positioned mouth, below or underneath the snout.
|
inferior tail ridge
|
in the Syngnathidae, the longitudinal ridge on the ventral margin of the tail rings, abbreviated ITAR.
|
inferior trunk ridge
|
in the Syngnathidae, the longitudinal ridge on the ventral margin of the trunk rings, abbreviated ITR.
|
infracaudal
|
on the underside of the caudal peduncle.
|
infraclass
|
taxonomic grouping infrequently used between class and order.
|
infraorbital
|
pertaining to the suborbital bones.
|
insertion (of a fin)
|
base of the fin, where it joins the body, usually pertaining to the origin or forwardmost extent.
|
insular
|
pertaining to an island.
|
integument
|
outer covering of the body.
|
inter (prefix)
|
between.
|
interbreed
|
breeding between species or populations.
|
interdorsal distance
|
distance between the dorsal fins.
|
interdorsal ridge
|
fleshy ridge on dorsal midline of body between dorsal-fin bases, characteristic of certain sharks.
|
intermaxillary
|
between the maxillae on the 2 sides.
|
internarial space
|
area between the nostrils.
|
internasal distance
|
distance between the nostrils.
|
internasal flap
|
fleshy flap extending between the nostrils and partly covering the mouth of some rays and sharks.
|
internasal valve
|
fleshy flap of skin between the nostrils of rays.
|
interopercle
|
often narrow bone forming the edge of the gill cover posterior to the subopercle and the lower part of the opercle.
|
interorbit (adj. interorbital)
|
area between the eyes, on top of the head.
|
interorbital width
|
shortest distance on top of the head between the eyes measured from the bony orbital rims.
|
interpelvic
|
space between the ventral-fin bases.
|
interspace
|
intervening space.
|
intersphenotic
|
distance between the anterolateral angles of the sphenotic bones that form the dorsolateral surfaces of the cranium immediately behind the orbits.
|
interspinous
|
between the spines, as interspinous membrane - the fin membrane supported by spines anteriorly and posteriorly.
|
intertidal
|
region between the edges of the high and low extremes of the tide.
|
intromittent oragan
|
specialised structure of a male used to deposit sperm into the female.
|
invertebrate
|
multi-cellular animals that have not evolved a notochord.
|
IP
|
ventral series of photophores anterior to pectoral-fin base.
|
iridescent
|
showing colours like those of the rainbow.
|
iris
|
flat, usually circular coloured membrane behind the cornea of the eye with a circular opening in the centre.
|
isocercal
|
pertaining to a perfectly symmetrical tail fin without upper and lower lobes.
|
isthmus
|
fleshy area on the underside of the head that separates the two gill chambers.
|
ITAR
|
inferior tail ridge.
|
ITR
|
inferior trunk ridge.
|
IUCN
|
The World Conservation Union (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources).
|
IV
|
ventral series anterior to ventral-fin base.
|
IV
|
ventral series of photophores anterior to ventral-fin base, comprising IP+PV.
|
joint
|
structure in the body by which two bones are joined together.
|
jugular
|
pertaining to the throat.
|
keel
|
fleshy or bony ridge, usually on the sides, belly, or caudal peduncle.
|
knot
|
speed equivalent to 1 nautical mile per hour (approximately 1.85km per hour).
|
krill
|
eupahusid, shrimp-like crustacean that feeds on phytoplankton and often occurs in huge numbers.
|
labial
|
pertaining to the lips.
|
lacrymal
|
foremost circumorbital bone immediately in front of each
eye (see 'preorbital').
|
lamella (pl. lamellae)
|
thin plate, layer or film, especially of
bone or tissue.
|
lamina (pl. laminae)
|
lamella, often with a stratified structure.
|
lanceolate
|
spear- or lance-shaped.
|
lappet
|
lobe-like structure, often associated with the iris in
the eye.
|
larva (pl. larvae adj. larval)
|
immature stage of a fish, which
differs greatly in appearance from the adult.
|
lateral line (scales)
|
row or rows of pored scales or sensory pores
in the skin along the side of the body; counted as the number of pore bearing scales
from the upper end of the gill opening to the base of the caudal fin.
|
lateral midline
|
lengthwise centre of the side.
|
lateral tail ridge
|
in the Syngnathidae, the longitudinal ridge
laterally on the tail rings, abbreviated 'LTAR'.
|
lateral trunk ridge
|
in the Syngnathidae, the longitudinal ridge
laterally on the trunk rings, abbreviated 'LTR'.
|
lateral(ly) (comb. latero-) adj.
|
referring to the side, away from
the centre.
|
lateralis
|
laterosensory.
|
laterosensory
|
sensory system comprising regularly arranged surface
pores opening from a subcutaneous system of canals with receptors capable of detecting
low frequency vibrations (movements).
|
lath-like
|
similar to thin strips of sawn or split timber for use
as internal support for hard plaster.
|
latitude
|
angular distance from the equator North or South measured
in degrees, minutes and seconds.
|
lectotype
|
one of several type-specimens designated after the publication
of a species-group name, as the type-specimen of the taxon bearing that name; designated
only where there was no original holotype.
|
lens
|
transparent substance with curved sides for the concentration
or dispersal of light.
|
leptocephalus (pl. leptocephali)
|
transparent leaf-like pelagic
larval form of eels and their close relatives.
|
light organ light-producing organ
|
structure that produces light
by a chemical reaction (bioluminescence), either directly by special body cells
or through luminescent bacteria cultured in body tissues.
|
limb
|
appendage, such as a leg, arm or wing, or section of a continuous
structure, like a gill arch.
|
lingual
|
of the tongue.
|
litter
|
offspring produced at the same time.
|
live-bearing
|
retention of eggs within the body cavity of the mother,
releasing free-swimming young at birth.
|
LL Llat
|
lateral line.
|
lobe (adj. lobate)
|
roundish and flattish projection or pendulous
part.
|
long-based
|
having a long base.
|
longitude
|
angular distance on the Earth's surface, measured
East or West from the prime meridian at Greenwich, England, to the meridian passing
through a position, expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds.
|
longitudinal
|
along the length.
|
longitudinal series
|
number of scales in a longitudinal row along
the length of the body.
|
longline
|
fishing gear comprising a line of considerable length
off which hang many shorter lines with baited hooks, the main line usually set horizontally
in the water column.
|
LTAR
|
lateral tail ridge.
|
LTR
|
lateral trunk ridge .
|
luminescent luminescence
|
producing light.
|
luminous infracaudal organ
|
light organ on underside of caudal
peduncle.
|
luminous organ
|
light organ; specialised part of the body that
produces light, usually without a lens.
|
luminous supracaudal organ
|
light organ on top of caudal peduncle.
|
lunate
|
shaped like a crescent moon, pertaining to the tail fin.
|
lure
|
structure used to entice potential food items within striking
distance of its predatory owner.
|
m
|
metre(s).
|
mail-cheeked
|
having horizontal spiny ridge or other protective
covering on the side of the head beneath the eye.
|
malar
|
pertaining to the forward portion of the upper surface of
the pectoral fins (fused with head) in rays.
|
mandible (adj. mandibular)
|
lower jaw.
|
mandibular pores
|
pores of the cephalic lateralis canal system
laterally on the lower jaw.
|
maori-like
|
having markings like the tattoos of the Maori people
of New Zealand.
|
marbled
|
having mottled or streaked colouration like marble limestone.
|
mature
|
fully developed and capable of reproduction.
|
maxilla (pl. maxillae maxillaries adj. maxillary)
|
hindmost of
two pairs of bones forming the lateral margin of the upper jaw.
|
medial(ly)
|
towards the middle of the body (towards the vertical
plane).
|
median
|
pertaining to the middle (vertical plane).
|
medusae
|
sea jellies (jellyfish).
|
melanophore
|
black pigment cell or chromatophore.
|
membrane
|
thin layer of connective tissue.
|
meristic
|
countable.
|
mesial(ly) (comb. meso-) adj.
|
towards the middle or medial plane.
|
mesopelagic
|
free swimming in the open ocean at depths from 200m
to 1000m.
|
mesopterygoid
|
bone in the suspensorium that forms part of the
roof of the mouth on either side behind the palatines.
|
metabolism
|
chemical processes within living tissue or organisms
necessary for the maintenance of life, involving the breaking down of substances
to yield energy for vital processes and the synthesis of others, necessary for life.
|
metalarval stage
|
stage of larval development at the point of changing
to the adult configuration.
|
metamorphosis
|
the marked changes in body form during growth, most
frequently from the larval to the adult stages.
|
microhabitat
|
natural home and immediate surroundings (fine scale
perspective).
|
micronekton
|
microscopic component of free swimming animals in
a body of water.
|
mid (adverbial prefix)
|
halfway or at the centre, as in midcaudal
- at the centre of the caudal.
|
midline
|
longitudinal centre.
|
midpoint
|
centre.
|
midside
|
central part of the side laterally.
|
midventral
|
centre of the underside.
|
mid-water
|
occurring in the open ocean well above the bottom and
well away from the ocean surface, usually at greatly reduced light levels or in
darkness.
|
minute
|
tiny.
|
mm
|
millimetre(s)
|
mode
|
way in which things are done; prevailing fashion.
|
molar (adj. molariform)
|
blunt, rounded tooth, adapted for grinding.
|
mollusc
|
member of a major invertebrate group typically having
a soft unsegmented body, a mantle and usually a protective calcareous shell or shells;
includes snails, slugs, bivalves, octopus, squid, etc.
|
monophyletic
|
sharing a common ancestor.
|
monospecific
|
having only a single species.
|
monospondylous
|
having a single vertebra in each body segment,
as in the trunk of certain fishes; in cartilaginous fishes, vertebral centra larger
than diplospondylous vertebral centra.
|
monotypic
|
having only a single species.
|
morphology (adj. morphological)
|
the anatomical form and structure
of organisms.
|
morphometrics morphometry
|
measurements of body structures.
|
mosaic
|
made up of many small non-uniformly coloured or textured
parts.
|
mouth width
|
transverse distance between corners of mouth.
|
mouthbrooding
|
retaining eggs within the mouth, usually by the
male, while they develop, thus improving their chance of survival.
|
MP
|
mandibular pores.
|
MPAs
|
marine protected areas
|
mucous mucus
|
slimy substance produced by cells in the skin of
fishes.
|
multicuspid
|
having many points or projections.
|
multifid
|
divided into many parts or lobes.
|
multilobed multilobate
|
having many lobes.
|
multiserial
|
having more than one series or row.
|
myomere myotome
|
segment of body muscle (muscle block).
|
naked
|
skin that is smooth and without scales.
|
nape
|
upper surface in front of the dorsal fin, just behind the
head.
|
nares (adj. narial)
|
nostrils.
|
nasal
|
relating to the nose or nostril.
|
nasal curtain
|
internasal flap; fleshy flap extending between the
nostrils and partly covering the mouth of some rays and sharks.
|
nasal organ
|
sensory organ for detecting smell.
|
nasal rosette
|
nasal organ, having prominent fan-like laminae equipped
with numerous olfactory sensory organs to enhance smell capability.
|
nasal tentacle
|
thick fleshy filament near the nostril.
|
nasal valve
|
nasal opening.
|
nasoral groove
|
furrow connecting the mouth to the nasal organ,
usually concealed beneath internasal flap.
|
neotype
|
a single specimen designated as the type-specimen of a
nominal species-group taxon of which the holotype (or lectotype), and all other
type specimens are lost or destroyed or suppressed by the International Commission
on Zoological Nomenclature.
|
neurocranium
|
the part of the skull that surrounds the brain.
|
neuromast
|
free nerve endings having a sensory function.
|
nictitating membrane
|
clear membrane at the front of the eye that
can be pulled over the surface of the eye for protection.
|
nocturnal
|
active at night.
|
non-serial photophore
|
isolated photophore not part of a photophore
series.
|
nostril
|
pore-like opening of the nasal organ; many species having
two pairs, an anterior nostril and a posterior nostril.
|
notch
|
indentation.
|
notochord
|
rudimentary or embryonic spinal cord or spinal column
appearing as a clear, stiffened rod.
|
notochord
|
A flexible, rod-shaped structure found in the embryos of all chordates. In most vertebrates it becomes ossified to form the vertebral column, although it persists throughout life as the main body support in hagfishes and some invertebrates.
|
nuchal
|
pertaining to the nape.
|
nuptial tubercles
|
small abnormal horny outgrowths that become
evident just before spawning and disappear shortly afterwards under the influence
of hormonal secretions.
|
nursery
|
space where offspring are raised.
|
OA
|
lateral series of photophores.
|
oblique
|
slanting or declining from the vertical or horizontal;
not at right angle.
|
oblique scale rows
|
diagonal scale rows; regular arrangement of
scales in slanted rows along the side of a fish's body usually counted above
the lateral line, if present, from the edge of the operculum to the posterior edge
of the hypurals.
|
obsolescence
|
no longer of use.
|
obtuse
|
not pointed; with a blunt end, forming a broad angle.
|
occipital (n. occiput)
|
pertaining to the back part of the top
of the head (or the occipital bones of the skull).
|
oceanic
|
of the open ocean.
|
Oceanodromy
|
migration between marine habitats.
|
ocellus (pl. ocellae adj. occellated)
|
an eye-like spot with a
marginal ring (often a dark spot with a pale marginal ring).
|
ocular
|
pertaining to the eye.
|
olfactory
|
pertaining to the nasal organs or the sense of smell.
|
olfactory organ
|
organ for the sense of smell.
|
oophagous
|
feeding on eggs.
|
ooze
|
mud; very fine soft sediment.
|
Op
|
'cheek' photophores on opercle.
|
OP
|
opercular photophores.
|
opercle
|
large, posterior bone of the gill cover.
|
opercular
|
pertaining to the operculum or gill cover.
|
opercular membrane
|
membrane around the free edge of the gill cover
providing a seal across the gill opening when water is drawn into the mouth for
respiration.
|
operculum (pl. opercula)
|
bony flap (supported by several individual
bones), which covers the gills.
|
oral disc
|
circular mouth of lampreys.
|
ORB 1
|
photophore anterior to eye.
|
orbit (adj. orbital)
|
bony eye socket.
|
orbital tentacle
|
filamentous fleshy outgrowth, usually above the
eye.
|
orbital thorns
|
enlarged spine-like denticles partially encircling
medial side of orbit in some skates.
|
order (adj. ordinal)
|
commonly used major grouping in classification
falling between class and family.
|
origin
|
the most anterior point of the base of a fin, a spine,
or a ray.
|
osmosis (adj. osmotic)
|
tendency of a fluid to move through a selective
barrier into a more concentrated solution.
|
ossicle
|
plate of bone-like material.
|
ossify (n. ossification)
|
to turn into bone.
|
ostracitoxin
|
tetrodotoxin; virulent poison, capable of causing
death, present in certain body tissues of pufferfishes and some of their relatives.
|
ostracod
|
small crustacean with a pair of clam shell-like valves
for protection.
|
ostracoderm
|
extinct group of fishes best known for its outer bony
covering or exoskeleton.
|
otolith
|
oval-shaped calcareous structures in the ear capsules
of bony fishes (earbones).
|
OV
|
lateral series of photophores, subdivided into anterior OVA
and posterior OVB.
|
ovate ovoid
|
oval-shaped.
|
oviparous
|
eggs that hatch outside the body of the female parent.
|
oviphagous
|
method of embryonic nutrition where the embryo feeds
on unfertilised eggs or other embryos with the uterus.
|
ovoviviparous
|
producing eggs with a definite shell that hatch
within the body of the female parent.
|
ovulate
|
to release eggs from the ovary.
|
P
|
number of elements in each pectoral fin, usually comprising
just soft rays (Arabic numerals).
|
palate
|
roof of the mouth.
|
palatine
|
one of a pair of elongated bones on the palate just lateral
to and behind the vomer; the anteriormost bone of the suspensorium.
|
palatoquadrate
|
that portion of the suspensorium extending from
the jaw hinge to the front of the neurocranium.
|
papilla (pl. papillae adj. papillate papillose)
|
small fleshy
projection.
|
parasitic
|
living for some period of time, to its own benefit,
in or on another organism (the host) to the host's detriment.
|
particulate
|
in the form of separate particles.
|
PC
|
pyloric caecae
|
pectoral
|
pertaining to the breast region.
|
pectoral disc
|
flattened disc-like body of skates and rays formed
from the union of the pectoral fins with the head and body.
|
pectoral fin
|
usually the most anterior of the paired fins, situated
in the breast region or midlaterally on the side just behind the head (corresponding
to forelimbs in terrestrial vertebrates).
|
pectoral girdle
|
skeletal support for the pectoral fin.
|
pedicel
|
stalk-like structure.
|
peduncle
|
narrow stalk-like structure (most frequently referring
to the caudal peduncle).
|
pelagic
|
free swimming in the open ocean and seas.
|
pelvic bone
|
see 'pelvis'.
|
pelvic fin
|
ventral fin; each of the paired fins situated ventrally
and usually below or behind the pectoral fins (corresponding to hind limbs in terrestrial
vertebrates).
|
pelvic girdle
|
skeletal support for the ventral fin.
|
pelvis
|
basal bony support for the ventral or pelvic fins.
|
periphery (adj. peripheral)
|
outer margin.
|
periproct
|
scaleless area surrounding anus.
|
peritoneum
|
thin membrane that lines the abdominal cavity.
|
pharynx (adj. pharyngeal)
|
gullet or back part of the throat into
which the gills slits open.
|
phosphorescent
|
emission of light without combustion or perceptible
heat.
|
photophore
|
small, circular light-producing organ on the surface
of the body.
|
phylogeny (adj. phylogenetic)
|
pertaining to interrelationships
based on ancestry.
|
piebald
|
of two colours irregularly arranged, especially black
and white.
|
pinnacles
|
natural peak ending in a pyramid- or crown-like form.
|
pit
|
indentation or hollow in a surface.
|
placenta
|
flattened circular spongy vascular tissue in the uterus
that helps to nourish a developing foetus in live-bearing individuals.
|
Placental viviparity
|
The embryos initially rely on stored yolk and are then nourished directly by the mother through a yolk placenta.
|
planktivorous
|
feeding on plankton.
|
plankton (adj. planktonic)
|
small animals or plants that drift
passively with the ocean currents.
|
platelets
|
small discs, often with slightly concave centres.
|
pleural rib
|
slender paired bones based on the vertebral column
that provide the structural support for the membrane surrounding the body cavity
in which the swim bladder and major digestive and reproductive organs are contained.
|
plicate
|
pertaining to skin arranged in pleat-like folds.
|
PLO
|
photophore above pectoral-fin base.
|
PO
|
ventral series of photophores in front of
ventral fin.
|
Po
|
postorbital photophore posteroventral to eye.
|
Pol
|
lateral photophore(s) between adipose fin and posterior part
of anal fin.
|
polychaete
|
bristle worm; major group of annelid worms, particularly
diverse in the marine world.
|
polygonal
|
referring to an enclosed shape with many (usually more
than four) sides and angles.
|
polyp
|
individual member of a coelenterate colony, usually consisting
of a tubular body with an oral opening surrounded by a circle of tentacles at the
distal end.
|
POP
|
preopercular pores.
|
pore
|
small opening or pit, as in the lateral-line pores.
|
Posidonia
|
a genus of marine flowering 'seagrass ' plants with moderately broad flat leaves.
|
post (adverbial prefix)
|
coming after or behind, such as postorbital
- behind the orbit or eye.
|
posterior(ly) (comb. postero-) adj.
|
relating to the hind region.
|
posterolateral
|
hind region along the side.
|
post-larvae (adj. postlarval)
|
newly settled larvae that have not
yet acquired the juvenile configuration.
|
postocular
|
behind the eye.
|
postorbital
|
behind the orbit.
|
posttemporal
|
portion of the head or skull on either side behind
the orbits.
|
posttemporal bone
|
superficial bone suspending the upper end of
the pectoral girdle from the cranium on either side behind the orbits, and enclosing
a section of the laterosensory canal.
|
pouch
|
bag-like cavity.
|
Prc
|
ventral series of photophores just in front of caudal-fin
base.
|
pre (adverbial prefix)
|
coming before or in front of, such as preorbital
- in front of the orbit or eye.
|
preanal-fin chambers
|
series of lymph compartments within the finfold
on the ventral side of the body in advance of the anus.
|
prebranchial length
|
distance from the front of the rostrum to
front of first gill aperture.
|
prebranchial slime pores
|
slime pores from the anteriormost to
the last pore before the first gill aperture.
|
precaudal
|
anterior to the tail region.
|
precaudal length
|
length from snout tip to upper caudal-fin origin.
|
precaudal pit
|
notch on the caudal peduncle just before the caudal
fin.
|
precaudal vertebra
|
vertebra associated with the abdominal cavity,
lacking a haemal spine.
|
precloacal length
|
length from snout tip to anterior extent of
the cloacal opening.
|
predorsal
|
anterior to the origin of the first dorsal fin.
|
prehensile
|
adapted for holding, as in the tails of monkeys or
the snout of elephants.
|
prejuvenile
|
early life stage just prior to acquisition of juvenile
characteristics.
|
pre-mature
|
not yet capable of reproduction.
|
premaxilla (pl. premaxillae adj. premaxillary)
|
one of the paired
bones forming the front of the upper jaw, usually bearing teeth.
|
preocular
|
in front of the eye.
|
preopercle (adj. preopercular)
|
the bone situated behind and below
the eye and in front of the opercle.
|
preoral
|
pertaining to the area in front of the mouth.
|
preoral groove
|
(preoral cleft) groove before the mouth.
|
preoral length
|
shortest distance from the snout tip to the mouth.
|
preorbital
|
in front of the orbit.
|
preorbital bone
|
lacrymal; anteriormost (first) suborbital bone.
|
preorbital length
|
shortest distance from the snout tip to the
orbit.
|
prepelvic claspers
|
small, retractable appendages on each side
just forward of the ventral fins of mature male chimaeroid fishes; concealed with
a slit when retracted; prepelvic tentacula.
|
preural
|
pertaining to the next to the last vertebral element of
the vertebral column.
|
primary photophores
|
those photophores occurring in the majority
of the species, including serial photophores and recurring isolated photophores.
|
principal ray
|
one of the major segmented and often branched rays
supporting the caudal fin and articulating with the hypural bones basally (in most
fishes the number of principal rays equals the number of branched rays + 2 unbranched
rays).
|
proboscis
|
elongated, flexible extension of the snout.
|
process
|
natural appendage, outgrowth or protuberance.
|
procurrent ray
|
each of the small unbranched and often unsegmented
rays in the tail of many fishes situated on the dorsal and ventral margins of the
caudal peduncle in front of the principal rays.
|
protolarval stage
|
earliest larval stage.
|
protractile
|
capable of being extended forwards; protrusible.
|
protruding (adj. protrusible)
|
thrusting forth,
projecting, often pertaining to the jaws of fishes.
|
protuberance
|
bulge, prominence.
|
province
|
major area of natural distribution in a biogeographical
sense.
|
proximal
|
part of a structure nearest the base or point of attachment.
|
pseudobranch
|
remnant of the hyoid gill arch attached to the inner
surface of the gill cover; covered by skin in some fishes.
|
pterotic
|
each of a pair of bones on<em> </em>either side forming
a portion of the neurocranium (brain case) behind and slightly above the eye.
|
pterygiophore
|
three-part internal skeletal support at the base
of each of the dorsal- and anal-fin spines and rays.
|
pterygoid
|
ectopterygoid; a bone in the suspensorium on the posterior
part of the palate.
|
pungent
|
stiff and sharply pointed, as in some spines.
|
pupil
|
circular opening in the centre of the iris of the eye.
|
purgative
|
having the effect of a strong laxative; causing evacuation
of the stomach and bowels.
|
PV
|
ventral series of photophores between bases of pectoral and
ventral fins.
|
PVO
|
lateral photophores ventral, opposite, and/or dorsal to pectoral-fin
base.
|
pyloric caecum (pl. pyloric caecae)
|
tubular sac attached to the
stomach.
|
quadrangular
|
with four angles and edges.
|
quadrate
|
bone in the suspensorium with which the lower jaw is
hinged.
|
radials
|
series of column shaped bones in the pectoral girdle providing
a base distally for the pectoral-fin spines and rays and articulating with the coracoid
and scapula proximally.
|
raker
|
see 'gill raker'.
|
rapacious
|
grasping; predatory.
|
ray
|
flexible, usually segmented structure that supports a fin.
|
receptors
|
organs of sensory reception.
|
recurved
|
curved backwards or inwards.
|
reflector
|
surface causing light waves to rebound.
|
regressed
|
having gone backwards.
|
resorbed
|
absorbed again.
|
retia
|
rete mirable; highly vascularised organ within the gas bladder
responsible for gas secretion.
|
reticular (reticulate n. reticulation)
|
divided into a network;
arranged in small squares or with intersecting lines.
|
rhomboid (adj rhomboidal)
|
having a 4-sided (quadrilateral) shape
with only the opposite sides and angles equal.
|
riverine
|
of or on a river, or its banks.
|
rostrum (adj. rostral)
|
projecting snout or beak.
|
rudimentary (n. rudiment)
|
very small and poorly formed; undeveloped;
imperfectly developed.
|
rugose
|
with a rough surface.
|
sac
|
bag-like membrane-enclosed cavity.
|
saddle
|
marking on the back resembling a horse's saddle.
|
salp
|
barrel-shaped free-floating tunicate that moves by pumping
water through its gelatinous body by means of contraction, and strains the water,
feeding on phytoplankton.
|
SAO
|
lateral series of photophores above anus.
|
sashimi
|
Japanese food consisting of raw fish.
|
scale rows between dorsal-fin base and lateral line
|
scales above
lateral line (see above).
|
scale rows between lateral line and ventralfin base
|
scales below
lateral line (see above).
|
scaled
|
having scales.
|
scales above lateral line
|
regular arrangement of scales in slanted
rows between the dorsal margin of a fish's body to, but not including the lateral
line, counted downward and backward from the base of the first dorsal-fin spine
(or ray if spines are absent) unless otherwise stipulated.
|
scales below lateral line
|
regular arrangement of scales in slanted
rows between the ventral margin of a fish's body to but not including the lateral
line, counted upward and forward from the base of the first anal-fin spine (or ray
if spines are absent) unless otherwise stipulated.
|
scalloped
|
with a series of rounded projections along the margin
or edge, like the outer margin of a scallop shell.
|
scavenger
|
feeding on carrion.
|
schooling
|
forming a shoal or aggregation.
|
scribbling
|
resembling hurried or careless writing.
|
scull
|
propel by moving oar-like structure from side to side in
a twisting fashion.
|
scute
|
bony plate or ridged scale.
|
scutellum (pl. scutella)
|
shield-lie scale.
|
SDR
|
subdorsal rings.
|
sea jelly
|
jellyfish; marine invertebrates of the phylum Cnideria,
whose adult body is composed of a bell-shaped, jellylike substance enclosing its
internal structure, with tentacles suspended beneath.
|
sea urchins
|
members of the phylum Echinodermata, with globular,
usually rigid body having a five-part symmetry, covered by spines and moving by
means of hundreds of tiny, transparent, adhesive 'tube feet'.
|
seagrass
|
marine flowering plants with grass-like form.
|
seamount
|
underwater mountain.
|
seaweed
|
any of a large number of marine benthic algae.
|
secondary photophores
|
photophores occurring in a relatively few
number of species, other than regular serial photophores and recurring isolated
photophores.
|
secrete (n. secretion)
|
excrete substance, separated from blood,
to the exterior.
|
sedentary
|
characterised by little movement or swimming.
|
segmented ray
|
fin ray divided into segments along its length.
|
seine
|
fishing net with floats at the top and weights at the bottom
used to encircle fish, and usually hauled ashore.
|
semi-detached
|
partly connected and partly free.
|
sensory canal/pore
|
canal or pore associated with the electrosensory
or laterosensory systems.
|
serial(ly)
|
of, in or part of a series.
|
serrae (adj. serrated)
|
notches, like those of a saw.
|
sessile
|
fixed in one position, immobile.
|
sexual dimorphism (adj. sexually dimorphic)
|
difference in physical
appearance between males and females.
|
shelf
|
see 'continental shelf'.
|
shovelnose
|
having a spatulate snout.
|
siltation
|
the act of having sediment deposited by water.
|
simple
|
not divided into branches.
|
skin fold
|
area where skin is bent over upon itself, forming a
flesh ridge.
|
SL
|
standard length.
|
slime pores
|
series of pores along the flank of hagfishes that
produce large amounts of slime used in defense or in suffocating other fishes.
|
slope
|
see 'continental slope'.
|
snout
|
upper part of the head in front of the eyes.
|
So
|
photophore just below eye.
|
SO
|
paired photophores near symphysis of lower jaw.
|
soft dorsal
|
dorsal fin supported entirely or almost entirely of
soft rays.
|
soft ray
|
fin ray that is bilaterally paired and often segmented
and branched.
|
SOP
|
supraoccipital pores.
|
Sor
|
suborbital photophore anteroventral to eye.
|
spatulate
|
with a broad, flat and rounded shape.
|
specific
|
pertaining to species.
|
speciose
|
composed of many species.
|
sperm
|
male sex cell.
|
sphenotic
|
each of a pair of bones on either side forming
a portion of the neurocranium (brain case) immediately behind and slightly above
the eye, just below the frontal bone.
|
spheroid
|
sphere-like but not a perfectly spherical body.
|
spinal column
|
vertebral spine.
|
spine
|
sharp pointed projection, often supporting a fin; in reference
to fin spines, each element being undivided and unsegmented.
|
spiniform spinoid
|
having the shape of a spine.
|
spinoid scale
|
cycloid scale with a serrated margin; superficially
similar to ctenoid scales but with spines as outgrowths of the scale, as opposed
to true ctenii.
|
spinous
|
composed of spines or spine-like.
|
spinule (adj. spinular spinulate spinulous)
|
a small spine.
|
spiracle
|
opening behind the eye in sharks and rays with an open
passage to the pharynx, used in respiration.
|
spiral valve
|
spiral or helical fold in the midgut of primitive
fishes that increases the surface area for processing food without lengthening the
intestine.
|
splint bone
|
modified first ventral-fin ray that is unsegmented
and not bilaterally paired.
|
spur
|
hard, pointed projection.
|
squalene
|
oil produced in the liver of some sharks.
|
stalked
|
on a peduncle or stem-like structure.
|
standard length
|
length of a fish measured from the tip of the
snout to the end of the posterior edge of the hypurals, abbreviated 'SL'.
|
STAR
|
superior tail ridge.
|
stellate
|
star shaped.
|
STR
|
superior trunk ridge.
|
striae
|
striations.
|
striated (n. striation)
|
having a series of linear marks on the
surface.
|
stripe
|
lengthwise strip of colour.
|
sub (prefix)
|
below, as in 'subrostral', or almost but
not quite, as in 'subterminal mouth'.
|
subadult
|
maturing individual that is almost capable of reproduction.
|
subantarctic
|
biogeographic region of the Southern Ocean in the
vicinity of 50 degs latitude.
|
subarctic
|
region well away from the equator but not close enough
to the North Pole to be regarded as arctic.
|
subcircular
|
nearly circular.
|
subclass
|
division of classification immediately below class, between
it and the level order.
|
subcontinuous
|
slightly interrupted.
|
subcutaneous
|
below the skin.
|
subcylindrical
|
not quite cylindrical.
|
subdermal
|
below the skin.
|
subdorsal rings
|
in the Syngnathidae, the number of trunk rings
beneath the dorsalfin base + the number of tail rings beneath the dorsalfin base,
abbreviated 'SDR'.
|
subequal
|
almost equal.
|
subfamily
|
division of classification immediately below family,
between it and the level genus.
|
subgenus (pl. subgenera)
|
grouping of closely related species with
a common ancestry below the generic level; only recognised if there are at least
two such groupings in the genus.
|
subinferior
|
extremely inferior, as in subinferior mouth - a mouth
on the underside of the head well away from the tip of the snout.
|
subopercle
|
bone forming a portion of the operculum immediately
below the opercle.
|
suborbital
|
referring to below the orbit or eye.
|
suborbital bones
|
infraorbital bones, ventral series of circumorbital
bones not fused with the neurocranium.
|
suborbital stay
|
bony ridge beneath the eye extending from the
suborbital bone across the cheek to the preopercle, or almost to the preopercle.
|
suborder
|
division of classification between the levels of order
and family.
|
subphylum (pl. subphyla)
|
division of classification below the
level of phylum composed of one or more classes containing species that have a common
ancestry.
|
subrhombic
|
almost diamond-shaped; nearly an oblique equilateral
parallelogram.
|
subrostral
|
referring to below the snout.
|
subspecies (adj. subspecific)
|
population confined to a particular
geographic area within the overall range of a species that differs in a consistent
way from populations elsewhere in the range.
|
substrate substratum
|
underlying layer or substance; foundation.
|
subtemperate
|
on the polar side of a temperate region.
|
subterminal mouth
|
mouth opening on the underside of the head almost
at the anterior end.
|
subtidal(ly)
|
below the low tide mark.
|
subtriangular
|
nearly triangular.
|
subtropical
|
at the periphery of the tropical region, almost temperate.
|
subvertical
|
approaching the vertical.
|
sucking disc (suction disc)
|
disc-like structure on the head of
Echeneidae comprised of a series of thin movable plates called laminae; or ventral
disc formed, in part, from united ventral fins of Gobiesocidae used to attach fish
to rocks or vegetation.
|
suctorial
|
capable of sucking; having a sucker for adhering to
an object.
|
suffused suffusion
|
an overspreading of colour.
|
Suo
|
light organ dorsoposterior to eye.
|
super (prefix)
|
situated directly over, or more than.
|
superclass
|
division of classification immediately above class,
between it and the level phylum.
|
superior tail rings
|
in the Syngnathidae, the longitudinal ridge
on the dorsal margin of the tail rings, abbreviated 'STAR'.
|
superior trunk rings
|
in the Syngnathidae, the longitudinal ridge
on the dorsal margin of the trunk rings, abbreviated 'STR'.
|
superorder
|
division of classification immediately above order,
between it and the level class.
|
superspecies
|
division of classification immediately above species,
made up of two or more very similar species.
|
supra (prefix)
|
above, as in supraorbital - pertaining to the region
above the orbit (eye).
|
suprabranchial pores
|
posteriormost pores above the gill opening
in the temporal pore series of cephalic sensory pores.
|
supracarinalis anterior
|
lengthwise muscle connecting the rear
of the skull dorsolaterally with the first pterygiophore of the dorsal fin anterordorsally.
|
supracaudal
|
on top of caudal peduncle.
|
supracleithrum
|
paired dermal bone of the secondary pectoral girdle
above the cleithrum and below the posttemporal.
|
supramaxilla supramaxillary (also as adj.)
|
one or two dermal
bones on the upper side of the posterior end of the maxilla in more primitive fishes.
|
supraneural
|
one of a median series of detached, usually ossified
rods lying in the flesh between the head and the dorsal fin, presumably representing
detached neural spines.
|
supraoccipital
|
median bone at the upper rear end of the neurocranium,
often bearing a crest, and forming the top edge of the foramen magnum.
|
supraocular ridge
|
one of a pair of lengthwise bony ridges between
the eyes.
|
supraorbital
|
above the eye.
|
supraorbital canal
|
cephalic sensory canal extending from above
the eye to the nostrils.
|
suprascapula
|
bone or cartilage that joins the shoulder girdle
to the skull.
|
supratemporal
|
above the posterolateral (temporal) region of the
skull.
|
suspensorium
|
bone series on either side suspending the lower jaw
from the neurocranium or braincase.
|
suture
|
ragged line of union between two bones cemented with connective
tissue, allowing no movement.
|
swimbladder
|
gas-filled sac lying in the body cavity beneath the
backbone that provides the fish with some buoyancy.
|
symbiosis (adj. symbiotic)
|
the living together of 2 species to
their mutual benefit.
|
sympatric
|
having distributions that overlap geographically.
|
symphysis (adj. symphysial)
|
the junction or site of fusion between
two bones or parts of the anatomy, especially in the median plane of the body, often
the midline of the lower jaw.
|
syntypes
|
specimens on which a species name is based where one
has not been singled out as the holotype.
|
tab
|
small flap.
|
tail length
|
distance from the origin of the cloaca to the posterior
margin of the caudal fin.
|
tail rings
|
in the Syngnathidae, body rings on the tail posterior
to the anal ring, abbreviated 'TAR'.
|
tail slime pores
|
the series of slime pores that starts about over
the anterior margin of the cloaca to the last pore on tail.
|
TAR
|
tail ring.
|
Tas
|
Tasmania.
|
taxon (pl. taxa)
|
a particular natural unit within a classification;
a taxonomic unit.
|
taxonomy (adj. taxonomic)
|
the science of classifying.
|
telescopic eye
|
an elongated, cylindrical eye that protrudes forward or upward within an envelope of skin.
|
tenaculum
|
spiny, club-shaped organ on the head of male chimaeroids
apparently used during mating.
|
tendril
|
curling filamentous projection.
|
tentacle (adj. tentacular)
|
short fleshy appendage; cirrus.
|
terminal
|
towards the end; at the end.
|
terrestrial
|
living on land.
|
tetrapod
|
vertebrate animal having two pairs of limbs and feet.
|
tetrodotoxin
|
virulent poison occurring within certain tissues
of some, if not all, tetraodontiform fishes.
|
thoracic
|
pertaining to the chest or region of the body near the
head.
|
thorn
|
large spine or denticle.
|
tidal
|
associated with the periodic rise and fall of ocean water
produced by gravitational effects of the moon and sun on the earth.
|
TL
|
total length.
|
total length
|
body length measured from the tip of the snout to
the tip of the tail, abbreviated 'TL'.
|
toxic
|
poisonous.
|
TR
|
trunk ring.
|
transverse
|
from side to side; extending across.
|
transverse scale rows
|
regular arrangement of scales in slanted
rows between the dorsal and ventral margins of a fish's body; counted as the
number of scales above the lateral line + 1 lateral-line scale + the number of scales
below the lateral line.
|
tribe
|
a division of classification between the levels of family
and genus.
|
tricuspid(ate) tridentate
|
having 3 cusps or points (usually in
reference to teeth.
|
trifid
|
divided into three.
|
trilobed
|
having three lobes.
|
triradiate
|
having three parts or limbs that are directed outward
from a central point.
|
truncate
|
with a straight margin; abruptly cut off.
|
trunk
|
that part of a fish between the posterior border of the
opercular membrane and the anus.
|
trunk length
|
distance from the front of the last gill aperture
to the origin of the cloaca.
|
trunk rings
|
in the Syngnathidae, body rings on the trunk anterior
to and including the anal ring, abbreviated 'TR'.
|
trunk slime pores
|
series of slime pores posterior to the gill
apertures, terminating just before the cloaca; distinctly separated from the tail
series.
|
tubercle (adj. tubercular tuberculate)
|
a small, usually hard
protuberance on the body.
|
tubule
|
slender tube, often involved in conveying fluids.
|
tunicate
|
member of the primitive chordate subphylum Urochordata,
some having an attached barrel-shaped adult stage and others being clear, gelatinous
and planktonic as adults.
|
turbid
|
muddy; not clear.
|
unicuspid unicuspidate
|
having a single point or cusp.
|
unilateral
|
1-sided; done by or affecting only 1 person.
|
uniserial
|
in a single row.
|
unossified
|
not turned to bone.
|
unpaired fin
|
singular fin on the dorsal or ventral midline of
the body; dorsal, anal or caudal fin.
|
upper jaw length
|
distance between the anterior and posterior extents
of the upper jaw, following the line of the jaw.
|
upwelling
|
movement of water from great depths to the surface.
|
urea
|
waste product of metabolism excreted via the kidneys but
also found in the blood of sharks and rays to maintain osmotic balance.
|
urogenital
|
pertaining to the urinary and reproductive organs.
|
urogenital papilla
|
genital papilla; a small fleshy projection
behind the anus, through which the genital and sometimes urological system communicates
with the exterior.
|
uterus
|
the organ where fertilised eggs develop.
|
V
|
number of elements in each ventral fin, often comprising a spine
(Roman numeral) and soft rays (Arabic numerals).
|
VAL
|
lateral series of photophores from just behind ventral-fin
base to just behind anal-fin origin.
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variegated
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marked with irregular patches of different colour.
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VAV
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ventral series of photophores between ventral-fin base and
anal-fin origin.
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venom
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poisonous fluid injected into prey by biting or stinging.
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venomous
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capable of producing and injecting a toxic or poisonous
substance.
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vent
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anus, external opening of the alimentary canal.
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ventral fin
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pelvic fins; paired fins on the ventral surface between
the head and the vent, corresponding to the hind limbs of terrestrial vertebrates.
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ventral finfold
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ridge of thin, fleshy tissue extending along the
ventral midline of the body.
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ventral(ly) (comb. ventro-) adj.
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pertaining to the undersurface
or underside.
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ventrolateral(ly)
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pertaining to the region between the ventral
and lateral surfaces; the lower side of the body.
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vermiculate (n. vermiculation)
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marked with close wavy, worm-like
lines.
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Vert
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number of vertebrae in the vertebral column, often comprising
precaudal vertebrae + caudal vertebrae.
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vertebra (pl. vertebrae adj. vertebral)
|
one of a series of bony
or cartilaginous elements surrounding the notochord, or replacing it, and often
protecting the spinal cord and caudal vein.
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vertical fin
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dorsal, anal and caudal fins; unpaired fins on the
upper and lower midlines of the body.
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vestigial
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reduced to very small or undeveloped vestige.
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vexillum
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extremely elongated first ray in the dorsal fin of some
fish larvae.
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villiform tooth
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small, slender tooth, set in bands.
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viviparous
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producing live young, the developing young nourished
by the mother's body until they are released to the outside.
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VLO
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supraventral photophore above the ventral fin.
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Vn
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light organ anteroventral to eye.
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VO
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ventral series of photophores between ventral and anal fins.
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vomer (adj. vomerine)
|
median bone at the front of the neurocranium,
detectible at the front of the roof of the mouth, sometimes bearing teeth.
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warm temperate
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near tropical, warmer extent of a temperate region.
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yolk
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granules of semi-crystalline phospholipoprotein used as a
nutrient store during embryonic development.
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yolk-sac
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sac containing yolk used for nourishment in larval fish.
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zooplankton
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small animals or larva that drift in the water.
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Zostera
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eelgrass; a small genus of widely
distributed seagrass with long, bright green, ribbon-like leaves, about 1cm wide
growing from extensive, white branching runners.
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