Term |
Meaning and Explanation |
Category |
| Abdomen |
Belly; lowest part of fish body. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Abyssal zone |
Region of the ocean floor between the depths of 4000 and 6000 meters. |
Habitat |
| Abyssopelagic |
Pelagic zone between the depths of 4000 and 6000 meters. |
Habitat |
| Actinosts |
Series of bones at the base of the pectoral rays. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Acuminate |
Tapering gradually to a point. |
Description |
| Acute |
Pointed; Sharp. |
Description |
| Adipose eyelid |
Transparent fleshy tissue covering part or all of the eye in some fishes. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Adipose fin |
Small fleshy fin-like projection on the back between the dorsal fin and the caudal fin. Only some fishes have it. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Adnate |
Joined together. |
Description |
| Adpressed |
Pressed close to or lying close against body. |
Description |
| Aestivate |
Dormant or inactive during dry period. |
Biology |
| Affluent |
A stream or river that flows into a larger one; a tributary. |
Habitat |
| Airbladder |
Also referred to as swimbladder or gasbladder. A gas-filled sac lying under the backbone in the abdominal cavity, used in buoyancy. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Amphidromous |
Fish that migrate from fresh water to the seas, or vice versa, but not for the purpose of breeding. |
Biology |
| Anadromous |
Living mostly in salt water and migrating to spawn in fresh water. |
Biology |
| Anal |
Pertaining to the anus or anal fin. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Anal fin |
Lower fin on the belly behind the anus. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Angler |
A person that uses a fishing rod and reel to catch fish. |
Fishing |
| Angling |
Recreational catching of fish with hook, bait, line and fishing rod or pole. |
Fishing |
| Ankylosed |
Grown firmly together. |
Description |
| Antennae |
Paired feelers on the head of crustaceans. |
Other |
| Anterior |
Pertaining to the front portion. |
Description |
| Anti-reverse |
Fishing reel mechanical system that prevents the reel from spinning in reverse rotation and causing tangles. |
Fishing |
| Antrorse |
Turned forward. |
Description |
| Anus |
Vent; opening of the intestine through which wastes are excreted. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Archipelago |
A group of islands; an expanse of water with scattered islands. |
Habitat |
| Arthropods |
Member of Phylum Arthropoda having a hard exoskeleton and jointed legs; includes insects, crustaceans, and arachnids. |
Biology |
| Asperity |
Rough edge on a surface. |
Description |
| Asymetrical |
Not symmetry, uneven, of different shape or size. |
Description |
| Attenuate |
Tapering to a point. |
Description |
| Attenuate |
Elongate; extended or drawn out. |
Description |
| Attractant |
Scent additive applied to fishing lures to attract fish. |
Fishing |
| Axil |
Angular area between pectoral fin and body. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Axillary scale |
An elongate or modified scale at the insertion of the pelvic or pectoral fins. Only on some fishes. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Backlash |
A tangle or snarl in the fishing line cause by overrun spool. |
Fishing |
| Backwater |
An area of a river that is sometimes isolated. |
Habitat |
| Bail arm |
A semi circular part of a fishing reel that guides the line on the spool. |
Fishing |
| Baitrunner |
A fishing reel with more than one drag settings that can be switched. |
Fishing |
| Band |
An oblique or irregular marking. |
Description |
| Bar |
An elongate nearly straight vertical marking. |
Description |
| Barb |
A sharp projection on the fishing hook that holds a hooked fish. |
Fishing |
| Barbel |
Fleshy whisker-like projection, usually under the mouth. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Basal |
Pertaining to the base. |
Description |
| Base of fin |
The part of the fin that attaches to the body. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Bathyl Zone |
Region of the ocean floor between the depths of 1000 and 4000 meters. |
Habitat |
| Bathypelagic |
Pelagic zone between the depths of 1000 and 4000 meters. |
Habitat |
| Bay |
Indentation in the shoreline of a river, lake or other body of water. |
Habitat |
| Bayou |
A marshy outlet of a lake or river. |
Habitat |
| Benthic |
Refer to to the ocean bottom; bottom-dwelling; living on the sea bed. |
Habitat |
| Benthopelagic |
Living in the waters above but near the bottom. |
Habitat |
| Blind Side |
The side of a flatfish that does not have any eyes. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Blotch |
An enlarged area or patch that is different in colour from adjacent areas. |
Description |
| Bobber |
A float attached to the line to hold the bait or lure at a predetermined depth and act as a strike indicator. |
Fishing |
| Bottom fishing |
Fishing with the hook placed close to the water bed for benthic fish. |
Fishing |
| Brackish |
Mixed fresh and marine water. |
Habitat |
| Branchiae |
The gills of fish and some invertebrate animals. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Branchial aperture |
Gill opening. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Branchiostegal rays |
Bony rays supporting the membranes inside the lower part of the gill cover, behind the lower jaw. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Breast |
Ventral surface of body between the gill opening and pectoral or pelvic fins. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Bristle |
Stiff projection. |
Description |
| Canine teeth |
Slender conical, often enlarged and elongated teeth. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Carapace |
Shell or exoskeleton encasing the body. |
Crustacean Anatomy |
| Carnivorous |
Feeding on animals; flesh eating. |
Biology |
| Cartilage |
A gristle-like material that is more flexible than bone, but serving a similar structural purpose. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Caruncle |
A fleshy outgrowth. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Casting |
The act of throwing bait or lure over the water,using a fishing rod. |
Fishing |
| Catadromous |
Living mostly in fresh water and migrating to the sea to spawn. |
Biology |
| Caudal |
Pertaining to the tail. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Caudal fin |
Tail fin. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Caudal keel |
A lateral ridge found just forward of the tail fin on the caudal peduncle of some fast-swimming fish. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Caudal peduncle |
The base of the tail between the end of anal fin and the base of caudal fin; caudal wrist. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Caudal wrist |
The base of the tail between the end of anal fin and the base of caudal fin; caudal peduncle. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Cephalopods |
Member of the molluscan class Cephalopoda characterized by bilateral body symmetry, a prominent head, and a set of arms or tentacles converge at the head. Typically octopuses and squids. |
Biology |
| Cheek |
Side of head below and slightly behind the eye. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Cirri |
Plural of cirrus. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Cirrus |
A small, fleshy protuberance, often subdivided into branches. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Claspers |
External reproductive organs of male sharks, rays and chimaeras. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Cleaner fish |
Refer to cleaning stations. |
Habitat |
| Cleaning stations |
Places on the reef where where various species of fish and shrimps, known as cleaners live. These small fish and shrimp pick off bacteria, parasites and dead skin from the skin, scales, gills and even the mouths of fish. |
Habitat |
| Cleithral spine |
Spine at the dorsal end of the cleithrum, usually prominent when present and directed backwards. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Cleithrum |
Major bone providing basal support for the pectoral girdle and fin. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Compressed body |
Body flattened laterally. |
Description |
| Concave |
Curved inwards. Opposite of convex. |
Description |
| Continental rise |
The gentle slope at the base of the continental slope. |
Habitat |
| Continental shelf |
The flattened edge of the continental land mass between the coast and the continental slope. Generally from the subtidal zone to about 200 meters depth. |
Habitat |
| Continental slope |
The sloping edge of the continental land mass. Generally beginning from about 200 meters to 4000 meters depth. |
Habitat |
| Convex |
Curved outwards. Opposite of concave. |
Description |
| Corselet |
A scaly covering forms behind the head, encircling the pectoral region and continues along the lateral line of some fishes. Present on some scombrids. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Cranial |
Pertaining to the skull. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Cranium |
Skull. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Crenulate |
Scalloped or wavy edge. |
Description |
| Crustacean |
Member of the subphylum Crustacea which include crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill and barnacles. |
Biology |
| Ctenoid scale |
Scale with a spiny or toothed posterior margin. |
Description |
| Cutaneous |
Pertaining to the skin. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Cycloid scale |
Scale with smooth posterior margin. |
Description |
| Deciduous scales |
Easily shed or rubbed off scales. |
Description |
| Deep ocean current |
Current driven by density and temperature gradients. |
Habitat |
| Demersal |
Living on or near the sea bottom. |
Habitat |
| Dendritic |
Resembling a tree or shrub. |
Description |
| Denticle |
Small tooth-like structures. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Depressed body |
Body flattened from top to bottom. |
Description |
| Depth of body |
The height of the body or head from top to bottom. |
Description |
| Dermal |
Pertaining to the skin. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Diadromous |
Fish that migrate between the sea and fresh water for breeding purpose. |
Biology |
| Dimorphic |
Body shape and colour varies between the sexes. |
Biology |
| Disc |
The flattened head and body of batoid fishes. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Distal |
Near outer edge; far end from point of attachment. |
Description |
| Diurnal |
Active during daylight. |
Biology |
| Dorsal |
Pertaining to the back. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Dorsal fin |
Upper body fin. Sometimes consist of 2 or more separated fins. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Dorsum |
The upper surface of the head or body. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Drift fishing |
Fishing while the boat drifts with the current. |
Fishing |
| Ebb tide |
A falling tide, the phase of the tide between high water and the succeeding low water. |
Habitat |
| Ecosystem |
A community of organisms interacting with one another and the physical environment. |
Habitat |
| Edentulous |
Without teeth. |
Description |
| Elasmobranchs |
Cartilaginous fishes. |
Biology |
| Electrocyte |
Cell that generates electricity. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Elongate |
Extended in length. |
Description |
| Emarginate caudal fin |
Caudal fin shape with margin slightly concave. |
Description |
| Endangered species |
A population of an organism which is at risk of becoming extinct. |
Other |
| Endemic |
Native and restricted to a particular region or area. |
Habitat |
| Epibenthic |
Living on the bottom surface. |
Habitat |
| Epipelagic |
Pelagic zone from the surface to the depths of 200 meters. Also photic zone, euphotic zone, sunlit zone or sunlight zone. |
Habitat |
| Esca |
The lure on the end of the illicium of some fishes. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Estuarine |
Living mainly in estuaries. |
Habitat |
| Estuary |
The tidal reaches of rivers; partly enclosed body of mixed sea water and fresh water. |
Habitat |
| Euryhaline |
Organisms that are able to adapt to a wide range of salinities. |
Habitat |
| Eyed Side |
The side of a flatfish that has both eyes. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Falcate |
Shape of sickle or scythe. |
Description |
| Falciform |
Curve like a sickle. |
Description |
| Family |
A group term for classifying organisms, containing one or more related genera. |
Biology |
| Farmed fish |
Fish farmed using aquaculture techniques. |
Other |
| Filiform |
Threadlike. |
Description |
| Fimbriate |
Fringed at the margin. |
Description |
| Fin insertion |
The anterior or posterior point of attachment of a fin to the body. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Finlets |
Series of small fins arranged along the back and belly usually close to the caudal fin. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Fish finder |
Electronic sonar device which indicates the presence of fish. |
Fishing |
| Flexion |
The action of bending or the condition of being bent. |
Description |
| Fluviatile |
Living in river. |
Habitat |
| Fly fishing |
A fishing technique using artificial fly or lure. |
Fishing |
| Forked caudal fin |
Caudal fin shape with distinct upper and lower lobes and the posterior margin of each lobe relatively straight or gently curved. |
Description |
| Fork length (FL) |
The length of a fish as measured from the tip of the snout to the center of the fork in the caudal fin. Measurement for fishes with forked tails and which it is difficult to tell where the vertebral column ends. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Frontal ridge |
A ridge running along the top of the head along the midline. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Furcate |
Forked. |
Description |
| Fusiform body |
Body shape that is cylindrical and tapering at both ends. |
Description |
| Game
fish |
Fish caught for sport. |
Fishing |
| Gasbladder |
A gas-filled sac lying under the backbone in the abdominal cavity, used in buoyancy. Also referred to as airbladder or swimbladder. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Gastropods |
Member of the molluscan class Gastropoda consisting of snails and slugs. |
Biology |
| Genera |
Plural of genus. |
Biology |
| Genus |
A group term for classifying organisms, containing one or more related species. |
Biology |
| Gill |
Organ for exchange of dissolved gasses between water and the blood stream. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Gill arches |
The bony arches to which the gills are attached. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Gill cover |
The plate at the posterior end of the head that covers the gills; also called operculum. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Gill filaments |
Principal site of gas exchange in the gill. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Gill membrane |
membranes along the posterior and ventral margin of the gill cover. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Gill opening |
Opening behind the operculum. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Gill rakers |
A series of bony projections along the anterior edges of the gill arches. Help prevent food from escaping through the gill opening. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Gill slits |
Slit-like gills openings in fishes such as sharks, rays, and skates. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Gizzard |
An organ for grinding food; also called ventriculus. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Glossohyal |
Tongue bone. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Gonad |
An organ that produces gametes; a testis or ovary. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Gonopodium |
A modification of the anal fin of some male fish species to serve as a copulatory organ. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Gular plate |
Bony plate covering the underside of the head, behind the chin and between the sides of the lower jaw. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Gulf |
A large area of water bordered by land on three sides. |
Habitat |
| Habitat |
The place or environment where an organism naturally or normally lives and grows. |
Habitat |
| Hadalpelagic |
Pelagic zone between the depths of 6000 and 10300 meters. |
Habitat |
| Hadal Zone |
Region of the ocean floor between the depths of 6000 and 10300 meters. |
Habitat |
| Halocline |
A zone in which salinity changes rapidly. |
Habitat |
| Handline |
Fishing line used without a rod or reel. |
Fishing |
| Haremic |
A mating system where a group of female animals share a single mate. |
Biology |
| Herbivorous |
Feeding on plant. |
Biology |
| Heterocercal caudal fin |
The shape of a tail fin with a long upper lobe and a shorter lower lobe. |
Description |
| Hyaline |
Translucent or transparent. |
Description |
| Hypoxia |
Depletion of dissolved oxygen to a level which is harmful to aquatic organisms. |
Habitat |
| Hypural |
The spines or bones of the last few vertebrae that supports the caudal fin rays. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Hypural bone |
Plate-like bone supporting the caudal fin. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Ichthyologist |
Scientist who studies fish. |
Other |
| Ichthyoplankton |
Fish eggs and larvae. |
Biology |
| Illicium |
The modified isolated first ray of the dorsal fin that forms the “fishing rod" in anglerfishes. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Imbricate |
Overlapping arrangement as in roof tiles and fish scales. |
Description |
| Incised fin |
Fin membranes with a notched margin. |
Description |
| Incisor |
The front and flattened chisel-shaped tooth. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Inferior mouth |
Mouth position on underside of head with snout projecting in front of mouth. |
Description |
| Infraorbital canal |
The canal running from behind mid-eye, courses down and under the eye, and continues forward nearly to the snout. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Infraorbital pores |
Pores in infraorbital canal located along upper jaw below and slightly before eye. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Initial phase |
Colour phase of some fish comprising non-juvenile females and immature males. |
Biology |
| Interbreed |
Hybrid offspring produced by two different species. |
Biology |
| Interdorsal |
The space on the back between the bases of the first and second dorsal fins. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Interopercle |
The lower anterior bone of the gill cover. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Interorbital |
The space on top of the head between the eyes. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Intertidal |
The area of the shore covered at high tide and exposed at low tide. |
Habitat |
| Intromittent organ |
A male copulatory organ in some internally fertilizating species. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Isthmus |
The fleshy projection part of the underside of the head separating the gill openings. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Jaws |
The part of the mouth supporting the teeth. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Jigging |
A technique of fishing using jigs or lures on a vertical line that moved up and down. |
Fishing |
| Jugular |
Pertaining to the throat region. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Juvenile |
Young; immature life stage. |
Description |
| Juxtaposed |
Placed close together. |
Description |
| Keel |
A fleshy ridge. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Labial |
Pertaining to the lips. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Labial furrows |
Shallow grooves around the lips of many cartilaginous fish. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Labial papillae |
Fleshy projections around the lips. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Lagoon |
A body of shallow water separated from the deeper sea by a shallow or exposed sandbank, coral reef, or similar feature. |
Habitat |
| Lanceolate |
Spear-shaped or lance-shaped. |
Description |
| Larva |
Early life stage of some animals which often looks very different than the adult. |
Biology |
| Lateral |
The side or toward the side. |
Description |
| Lateral line |
Series of sensory pores opening to the exterior located along the side of fish. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Lateral-line pores |
Pores in lateral-line canal, usually beginning behind eye and ending near tail tip. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Leader |
A wire or real strong fishing line that attaches to the end of the main line. |
Fishing |
| Lepidophagous |
Scale-eater. |
Behaviour |
| Lepidophagy |
Specialised feeding behaviour in fish that involves eating of scales of other fish. |
Biology |
| Littoral |
The intertidal area of the shore. |
Habitat |
| Longline |
A line bearing numerous baited hooks, typically set horizontally in water column. |
Fishing |
| Lunate caudal fin |
Caudal fin shaped like a crescent moon; caudal-fin shape that is deeply emarginate with long and narrow lobes. |
Description |
| Mandible |
Lower jaw. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Margin |
Edge or rim. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Maxilla |
The bone in the upper jaw behind the premaxilla. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Maxillary teeth |
Upper jaw teeth. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Median |
The middle or toward the midline. |
Description |
| Median fins |
Fins that lie on the midline which include the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Melanophore |
Melanin bearing cell carrying black or greyish pigments. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Mesopelagic |
Pelagic zone between the depths of 200 and 1000 meters. |
Habitat |
| Midwater |
The middle stratum of water, well below the surface and well above the seabed. |
Habitat |
| Molar |
Low,blunt,rounded tooth for crushing and grinding. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Molariform teeth |
Broad, rounded teeth adapted for grinding. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Mollusk |
Member of Phylum Mollusca having a soft body and usually a shell. |
Biology |
| Mud flat |
Coastal wetlands that form when mud is deposited by the tides or rivers, sea and oceans. |
Habitat |
| Multiserial teeth |
Teeth arranged in multiple rows. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Nape |
The dorsal part of the body just behind the hard dorsal region of the skull and before the dorsal fin. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Nasoral |
Region between the nostrils and mouth. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Neap tide |
The tide with the least difference between the high and low level water. During first quarter and last quarter moon. |
Habitat |
| Neritic |
Nearshore; the zone of water above the continental shelves. |
Habitat |
| Nictitating membrane |
Inner eyelid. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Nocturnal |
Active during nighttime. |
Biology |
| Nuchal |
Pertaining to the nape. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Oblique |
Slanting or sloping. |
Description |
| Obtuse |
Blunt. |
Description |
| Occipital |
Pertaining to the upper back part of the head or skull. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Occiput |
Upper back part of the head or skull. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Oceanic |
Living in the open ocean. |
Habitat |
| Oceanodromous |
Fish that migrate only within marine waters. |
Biology |
| Ocelli |
Plural of ocellus. |
Description |
| Ocellus |
A round eye-like spot or marking with a marginal ring. |
Description |
| Ocular |
Pertaining to the eye. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Olfactory |
Pertaining to the sense of smell. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Omnivorous |
Feeding on both animals and plants. |
Biology |
| Opercle |
The large posterior upper bone of the gill cover. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Opercular |
Pertaining to the operculum. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Opercular spine |
Spine projecting from the gill gover. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Operculum |
Gill cover; the plate at the posterior end of the head that covers the gills. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Orbital bones |
The bones surrounding the eye. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Origin of fin |
The anterior point of attachment of the fin to the body. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Osseus |
Bone. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Otolith |
A small bone or earstone in the inner ear of fishes. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Ovate |
Egg-shaped. |
Description |
| Ovigerous |
Carrying or bearing eggs. |
Biology |
| Oviparous |
Producing eggs that hatch outside the body of the mother. |
Biology |
| Oxbow |
A U-shaped bend in a river or stream. |
Habitat |
| Paired fins |
Fins found on both sides of the body which include the pectoral and pelvic fins. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Palate |
The roof of the mouth. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Palatine |
The paired bones on each side of the palate. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Papilla |
A small fleshy projection. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Papillae |
Plural of Papilla |
Fish Anatomy |
| Papillose |
Covered with papillae. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Pectoral fins |
Paired fins on the sides behind the gill cover. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Pelagic |
Living on or in the open seas or oceans but not near the bottom. |
Habitat |
| Pelvic fins |
Paired fins behind or below the pectoral fins, and in front of the anal fin. Also called ventral fins. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Pharyngeal |
Pertaining to the back part of the throat, into which the gill slits open. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Piscivorous |
Feeding on fishes. |
Biology |
| Planktivorous |
Feeding on plankton. |
Biology |
| Polygonal |
Shape having more than four sides. |
Description |
| Pore |
A small secretory or sensory opening. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Posterior |
Pertaining to the rear portion. |
Description |
| Postorbital |
Region behind the eye. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Potamodromous |
Fish that migrate between upstream and downstream in freshwater. |
Habitat |
| Preanal length |
The horizontal distance from the snout tip to the mid-anus. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Predator |
Animal that captures its prey live. |
Biology |
| Premaxilla |
Anterior bone in the upper jaw. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Preopercle |
The upper anterior bone of the gill cover. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Preorbital |
Region under and in front of the eye. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Protractile |
Capable of being thrust out. |
Description |
| Protrusible |
Capable of being thrust out. |
Description |
| Proximal |
Nearest. |
Description |
| Pseudobranchium |
A small patch of gill-like filaments on the upper inner surface of the gill cover. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Ray |
Supporting element of fins. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Recruitment |
Entry of individuals into a particular category. |
Habitat |
| Red tide |
Proliferation of marine plankton that is toxic and often fatal to fish. This phenomenon is stimulated by phosphorus and other nutrients that are discharged into waterways by human beings. |
Habitat |
| Reticulum |
The colour pattern in which lines form a network pattern around and between spots. |
Description |
| Retrorse |
Turned or pointing backward. |
Description |
| Rhomboidal caudal fin |
Caudal fin having top and bottom unequal length/shape. |
Description |
| Roe |
Eggs of fishes. |
Biology |
| Rostrum |
Projecting snout or beak of the carapace of a crustacean. |
Other |
| Rounded caudal fin |
Caudal fin shape with the terminal border smoothly convex. |
Description |
| Rudiment |
A poorly developed structure. |
Description |
| Saddle |
A blotch extending across the dorsal surface from one side to another. |
Description |
| Salinity |
Saltiness of the water. |
Habitat |
| Scale |
A small, flattened, rigid, and circumscribed plate on the external body. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Scavenger |
Animal that feeds on dead organisms or organic matter. |
Biology |
| Scute |
A modified scale. Can be enlarged, horny, hardened, ridged, keeled, or spiny. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Seine |
A fishing net that hangs vertically in the water column and encircles fish when its ends are drawn together. |
Fishing |
| Semidemersal fish |
Fish living above the seafloor, feed mainly on zooplankton. |
Habitat |
| Serrate |
Saw-like notches along a margin. |
Description |
| Setae |
Bristles or hardened hair-like projections. |
Description |
| Sexual dimorphism |
Differences in physical appearance between the sexes. |
Biology |
| Sinker |
A weight used to sink the bait or lure. |
Fishing |
| Snout |
The part of the head in front of the eyes. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Soft dorsal |
The posterior portion of the dorsal fin which is composed of jointed rays. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Soft ray |
Laterally paired, segmented, and usually flexible and branched fin support element. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Spatial |
Pertaining to distribution, distance, direction, areas and other aspects of space. |
Habitat |
| Spatulate |
Spatula-like or shovel-like. |
Description |
| Spawn |
To lay eggs; to produce offspring in large numbers. |
Biology |
| Species |
Interbreeding populations that are reproductively isolated from other populations. |
Biology |
| Spine |
Unpaired laterally, unsegmented, unbranched and usually stiff and pointed fin support element. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Spinous dorsal |
The anterior portion of the dorsal fin that is supported by spines. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Spiracles |
Respiratory openings behind the eyes in sharks and rays. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Spot |
A regularly shaped or rounded area of a colour different from adjacent areas. |
Description |
| Spring tide |
The tide with the largest difference between the high and low level water. During new and full moon. |
Habitat |
| Standard length (SL) |
The distance from the anterior most point on the fish to the posterior extremity of the hypural plate, the expanded bones at the end of the backbone that support the caudal fin. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Striae |
Narrow bands of colour or a ridges, grooves, or similar linear marks, usually in parallel series. |
Description |
| Stripe |
An elongated nearly straight horizontal marking. |
Description |
| Subequal |
Almost equal. |
Description |
| Submarginal |
Adjacent to the margin. |
Description |
| Subopercle |
The lower rear bone in the gill cover. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Suborbital |
Region below the eye. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Subterminal mouth |
Mouth position that is oriented behind the snout and faces downward. |
Description |
| Subtidal |
The ocean floor below the low tide mark. |
Habitat |
| Superior |
Above or on the upper surface. |
Habitat |
| Superior mouth |
Mouth position with the snout behind the anterior opening of the mouth. |
Description |
| Supraorbital |
Region above the eye. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Surface ocean current |
Wind driven current. |
Habitat |
| Surfcasting |
Fishing from a shoreline using a rod to cast into the surf. |
Fishing |
| Swimbladder |
A gas-filled sac lying under the backbone in the abdominal cavity, used in buoyancy. Also referred to as airbladder or gasbladder. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Tackle |
Fishing equipment. |
Fishing |
| Taxonomy |
The science of classifying organisms. |
Biology |
| Teleost |
A member of the large group containing most of the bony fishes. |
Biology |
| Terminal |
Pertaining to at the end, or situated at the end. |
Description |
| Terminal mouth |
Mouth position with the opening of the mouth even with the tip of the snout. |
Description |
| Terminal phase |
Colour phase of adult male of some fish, usually more brightly coloured than initial phase. |
Biology |
| Terminal tackle |
The gear attached to the end of the fishing line. |
Fishing |
| Thoracic |
Pertaining to the chest. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Tidal current |
Alternating horizontal movement of water associated with the rise and fall of the tide as the earth rotates. |
Habitat |
| Tide |
The rise and falling of seas, oceans and rivers caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun. |
Habitat |
| Total length (TL) |
The distance from the anterior most point on the fish to the posterior edge of the caudal finfold. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Toxin |
Poisonous substance produced by a living organism. |
Biology |
| Trawling |
Fishing technique with the boat moving and the fishing net trailing behind. |
Fishing |
| Treble hook |
A hook with three sharp points. |
Fishing |
| Trolling |
Fishing technique with the boat moving and the fishing line trailing behind. |
Fishing |
| Truncate caudal fin |
Caudal fin terminating abruptly in a square end. |
Description |
| Tubercle |
A small lump or excrescence. |
Description |
| Turbidity current |
Current of rapidly moving, sediment-laden water that is heavier than clear water and therefore flows downslope along the bottom of the sea or a lake. |
Habitat |
| Undulated |
Having a wavy surface, edge, or markings. |
Description |
| Uniserial teeth |
Teeth in a single row. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Vent |
Anus; opening of the intestine through which wastes are excreted. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Ventral |
Pertaining to the abdominal or lower surface of the body. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Ventral fins |
Paired fins behind or below the pectoral fins, and in front of the anal fin. Also called pelvic fins. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Ventriculus |
Gizzard; an organ for grinding food. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Vertebrae |
The bones of the spinal column. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Vertical fins |
The median fins which include the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Vestige |
Small or underdeveloped structure. |
Description |
| Villiform teeth |
Slender teeth forming velvety bands. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Viviparous |
Giving birth to living offspring that develop within the body of the mother. |
Biology |
| Vomer |
An unpaired median bone on the roof of the mouth. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Vomerine teeth |
Teeth on the vomer bone along the midline of the upper jaw. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Wetlands |
Areas of land where the soil is saturated with moisture, such as swamps and mangrove forests. |
Habitat |
| Yolk Sac |
A bag-like ventral extension of the gut containing nutrive materials. |
Fish Anatomy |
| Zooplankton |
Small aquatic animals that are suspended or swimming in water. |
Biology |