A |
Abdomen |
The belly of the fish containing the internal organs. |
Adipose fin |
Small fleshy fin-like projection on the back of some fishes between the dorsal fin and the caudal fin (tail). |
Anal fin |
Fin on the belly behind the anus. |
Antennae |
Paired feelers on the head of crustaceans. |
Anterior |
Towards the head or front. |
Anus |
External opening to the intestine. |
B |
Barbels |
Fleshy whisker-like extensions, usually under the mouth. |
Benthic |
Living close to or on the bottom. |
By-catch |
All catch other than the species sought (non-target species). |
C |
Canine teeth |
Conical fang-like teeth on the jaws. |
Carapace |
Shell or exoskeleton encasing the body of a crustacean. |
Carnivorous |
Feeding or preying upon animals - flesh eating. |
Cartilage |
A substance more flexible than bone, but serving a similar structural purpose. |
Caudal peduncle |
The base of the tail between the anal fin and the caudal fin. |
Cheek cleft |
Cleft on gill cover. |
Crustacean |
Shellfish, e.g. prawns, crayfish, crabs, yabbies. |
D |
Demersal |
Living on or near the sea bottom. |
Dimorphic |
Body shape and colour varies between the sexes. |
Diurnal |
Active during daylight. |
Dorsal fin |
Fins that run along the back of a fish (except an adipose fin). |
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E |
Elongate |
Extended in length. |
Estuarine |
Living in estuaries, the tidal reaches of rivers. |
F |
Fillet |
Slab of flesh cut from the side of a fish. |
Finlets |
Series of separate small fins arranged along the back and belly usually between the dorsal fin and tail and/or anal fin tail. |
G |
Gill arch |
Bony or cartilaginous structure supporting the gills. |
Gills |
The feathery organs by which fish extract oxygen from the water. |
H |
Herbivorous |
Feeding on vegetable matter - plant eating. |
I |
Ike jime |
Method of killing fish by inserting a sharp spike into their brain. |
K |
Keel |
Hard ridge along the body usually on the head or caudal peduncle. |
K |
Lateral line |
Sensory canal system, usually consisting of specialised scales, that runs along the sides of all fish. It is more visible in some fish than in others. |
M |
Molar |
Blunt tooth used for crushing and grinding. |
Mollusc |
Shellfish such as oyster, scallops, squid, octopus, etc. |
Mucus |
Slimy substance secreted by mucus glands. Used by fish to protect their skin from disease, parasites and injury. |
N |
Nape |
Neck region adjacent to skull. |
Nocturnal |
Active at night. |
O |
Ocellus |
Round marking that mimics or simulates an eye. |
Omnivore |
Feeding on both animals and plants. |
P |
Paired fins |
Pectoral and pelvic fins. |
Pelagic |
Living in the open ocean or sea above the sea floor. |
Pelvic |
Paired fins on the belly before the anal fin. |
Planktivore |
Feeding on plankton. |
Plankton |
Tiny plant and animal life adrift in the water column. |
Posterior |
Towards the tail or rear. |
R |
Rostrum |
Beak-like extension on the carapace of some crustaceans. |
S |
Scutes |
Modified spiny scales that form hard plates along the tails of some fish. |
Shellfish |
General term for crustaceans and molluscs. |
Soft dorsal fin |
Dorsal fin supported by flexible rays rather than rigid spines. |
Spinous dorsal fin |
Dorsal fin supported by rigid spines. |
Swim bladder |
Sac-like organ in fish's abdomen containing air - air bladder. |
T |
Terminal |
Located at the end of something. |
U |
Uniform colour |
Having only one colour. |
V |
Ventral |
Of or pertaining to the underside. |
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