heterocercal fin

Thesaurus

Noun

heterocercal fin - a tail fin with unequal lobes in which the vertebral column turns upward into the larger lobe as in sharkscaudal fin, tail fin - the tail of fishes and some other aquatic vertebrateshomocercal fin - symmetrical tail fin extending beyond the end of the vertebral column as in most bony fishes

Heterocercal Fin

an asymmetrical caudal fin found on a number of aquatic vertebrates; the axial skeleton continues within the upper (epicercy) or lower (hypocercy) lobe of this fin. A hypocercal tail is characteristic of fossil Agnatha (Anaspida, Heterostraci) and ichthyosaurs; an epicercal tail is characteristic of many fossil and modern fishes (sharks, true sturgeons). When in motion a heterocercal fin creates buoyancy and helps the animal’s stability and balance. Upon development of active control with the aid of paired sculling fins, the heterocercal fin lost its function of regulator and was transformed into a homocercal or diphycercal fin.

heterocercal fin

the type of tail fin found on sharks where the ventral lobe is large and the dorsal lobe small.

heterocercal fin

Related to heterocercal fin: homocercal, Paired fins, pelvic fin

noun

Antonyms for heterocercal fin

noun a tail fin with unequal lobes in which the vertebral column turns upward into the larger lobe as in sharks

Related Words

caudal fin
tail fin

Antonyms

homocercal fin

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