| aff. |
affinis, to species you know are distinct, but
closely related. |
| Allotype* |
A term, not regulated by the Code, for a
designated specimen of opposite sex to the holotype. |
| Anal Fin |
The median, unpaired, ventrally located fin that
lies behind the anus, usually on the posterior half of the fish.
(126)
See chart for details. |
| Benthopelagic |
Living and feeding near the bottom as well as in
midwaters or near the surface. Feeding on benthic as well as
free swimming organisms. Many freshwater fish are opportunistic
feeders that forage on the bottom as well as in midwater and
near the surface |
| Benthic |
Dwelling on, or relating to, the bottom of a
body of water; living on the bottom of the ocean and feeding on
benthic organisms |
| Biotope |
An area of relatively uniform environmental
conditions, occupied by a given plant community and its
associated animal community. ~
EUNIS |
| Body Depth |
This measurement usually taken as the greatest
distance from the dorsal midline to the ventral midline of the
body (greatest depth of body). However, in some works this depth
is measured at the origin of pectoral fins, pelvic fins and
first anal fin. (126)
See chart for details. |
| Caudal Fin |
Often called the tail fin, it provides the main
power for forward movement in fish. It may be square or slightly
indented to deeply forked. (126)
See chart for details. |
| Caudal Peduncle |
The narrow part of the body between the
posterior ends of the dorsal and anal fins and the base of the
caudal fin. (126)
See chart for details. |
| cf. |
confer, to species you supose to be same. |
| Cotype* |
A term not recognized by the Code, formerly used
for either syntype or paratype, but that should not now be used
in zoological nomenclature. |
| Dorsal Fin |
A median fin along the back which is supported
by rays. There may be two or more dorsal fins, in which case the
most anterior one is designated the first. (126)
See chart for details.
|
| Fin Rays |
The supporting bony elements of fins, including
spines and soft rays; all fin-supports are rays, whether
segmented, unsegmented or spinous, but sometimes the term ray is
used to denote soft rays only. (126)
See chart for details. |
| Genotype* |
A term not recognized by the Code, formerly used
for type species, but that should not now be used in zoological
nomenclature. |
| Head |
Specialized anterior part of an animal on which
the mouth and major sensory organs are located; part other than
the body (snout to the posterior gill opening in fish). (126)
See chart for details. |
| Holotype* |
A single specimen designated as the name-bearing
type of a species or subspecies when it was established, or the
single specimen on which such a taxon was based when no type was
specified. |
| Lateral Line |
The lateral line consists of a series of scales,
each modified by a pore, which connects with a system of canals
containing sensory cells and nerve fibers. It runs in a semi
line from the gills to the tail fin. It can easily seen in fish
as a band of darker looking scales running along the side. The
Lateral line has shown to be a very important sensory organ in
fish. It can detect minute electrical currents in the aquarium
water. It can also function as a kind of echo location process
that helps the fish identify its surroundings. (130)
See chart for details. |
| Lectotype* |
A syntype designated as the single name-bearing
type specimen subsequent to the establishment of a nominal
species or subspecies. |
| Morphometric |
Measurement of external forms.
See chart for details. |
| Name-bearing type* |
The type genus, type species, holotype,
lectotype, series of syntypes (which, together, form the
name-bearing type), neotype, type slide, or hapantotype, that
provides the objective standard of reference whereby the
application of the name of a taxon can be determined. |
| Nape |
The part of the back that extends from the
margin of the skull to the dorsal-fin origin; also, the region
of the head above and behind the eyes. (126)
See chart for details. |
| Neotype* |
The single specimen designated as the
name-bearing type of a nominal species or subspecies for which
no holotype, or lectotype, or syntype(s), or prior neotype, is
believed to exist. |
| New combination |
When a species is transferred to a different
genus for the first time |
| Nomen nudum |
A name that does not fulfill the criteria set by
the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature as a legally
described scientific name and therefore cannot be used unless it
is subsequently proposed correctly |
| Operculum |
Bony gill cover; comprised of four bones:
opercle, preopercle, interopercle and subopercle. (126)
See chart for details. |
| Paralectotype* |
Each specimen of a former syntype series
remaining after the designation of a lectotype. |
| Paratype* |
Each specimen of a type series other than the
holotype. |
| Pectoral Fins |
The fin usually found on each side of the body
behind the gill opening; this pair of fins is found on the lower
parts of the body in primitive forms of fish; corresponding to
the forelimbs of higher vertebrates; united to form the disc in
most rays. (126)
See chart for details. |
| Pelvic Fins |
See Ventral Fins. |
| Soft Ray |
A segmented fin ray which is composed of two
closely joined lateral elements. It is nearly always flexible
and often branched. (126) |
| Snout |
The part of the head in front of the eye; the
distance from the eye to the anterior tip of the head above the
upper jaw (normally the upper lip). (126)
See chart for details. |
| Spine |
A sharp projecting point; if referring to fins,
a stiff unsegmented, undivided and unbranched element supporting
a fin. (126) |
| Standard Length (SL) |
The length of a fish from the front of the upper
lip to the posterior end of the vertebral column (the last
element has a broadened hypural plate forming the bony support
for the caudal fin rays). In small dead fish, the end point is
detected by bending the caudal fin to one side. In fishery work,
as a result of the use of the measuring board, standard-, fork-
and total length are taken from the most anterior part of the
head. (126)
See chart for details. |
| Synonymy |
A section of a systematic presentation about an
organism that lists all of the names that have been used for the
organism including
synonyms, new combinations, misidentifications, etc. In some
cases this section may include only true synonyms |
| Syntype* |
Each specimen of a type series from which
neither a holotype nor a lectotype has been designated. |
| Topotype* |
A term, not regulated by the Code, for a
specimen originating from the type locality of the species or
subspecies to which it is thought to belong, whether or not the
specimen is part of the type series. |
| Total Length (TL) |
The length of a fish measured from the front of
the jaw which is most anterior to the end of the longest caudal
ray when the rays are squeezed together, but excluding the
caudal filaments. (126)
See chart for details. |
| Type* |
A term used alone, or forming part of a compound
term, to denote a particular kind of specimen or taxon. |
| Type horizon* |
The geological stratum from which the
name-bearing type of a nominal species or subspecies was
collected. |
| Type locality* |
The geographical place of capture or collection
of the name-bearing type of a nominal species or subspecies. If
the name-bearing type was captured or collected after being
transported by boat, vehicle, aircraft, or other human or
mechanical means, the type locality is the place from which it,
or its wild progenitor, began its unnatural journey. |
| Type series* |
The series of specimens that either constitutes
the name-bearing type (syntypes) of a nominal species or
subspecies or from which the name-bearing type has been or may
be designated. |
| Type species |
A species that has been selected as the standard
bearer of a genus or subgenus |
| Type specimen* |
A term used in previous editions of the Code for
holotype, lectotype, or neotype; also used generally for any
specimen of the type series. |
| Type genus |
A genus that has been selected as the standard
bearer of a tribe, family, or superfamily and provides the stem
of the family-group
name |
| Ventral |
Toward the lower part of the body; on or towards
the lower surface (the underside) of the fish; the opposite of
dorsal. (126)
See chart for details |
| Ventral Fins |
Pair of fins corresponding to the hind limbs of
higher vertebrates; these vary in position from well behind the
pectoral-fin base, to below it, to distinctly before it, their
progression forward in general paralleling the advancement of
their bearers up the evolutionary ladder to more specialized
levels. (126)
See chart for details. |
