Seriously Fish
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Glossary

Glossary

Every technical term used here, defined.

Terms
1,702
With an illustration
23
Cross-references
66
Used in profiles
1,807

182 terms beginning with P · showing 81–120

  1. phylogeny

    The evolutionary development and history of a species or other taxonomic group. May be based on morphology, molecular data, or both.

    Used in 52 profiles

  2. phylogeography

    The study of the relationships between organisms and their geographical location.

  3. phylum

    Taxonomic rank below kingdom and above class.

  5. phytoplankton

    The photosynthesizing constituent of a planktonic community, consisting of algae, cyanobacteria and other microorganisms.

    Used in 28 profiles

  6. pico aquarium

    Tiny aquarium of arguable definition, but generally considered to have a volume between 2.5-5 US gallons (2.08-4.16 UK gallons; 9.46-18.93 litres). Also known as a pico tank.

  8. pigment

    Substance producing a characteristic color in plant or animal tissue.

    Used in 60 profiles

  9. pigmentation

    Colouration formed by deposition of pigments in tissues or cells.

    Used in 184 profiles

  10. pinnate

    Resembling a feather; feather-like.

  11. pisciculture

    Breeding and rearing of fish under controlled conditions.

  13. piscine

    Of, relating to, or characteristic of a fish or fishes.

  14. piscivore

    An organism that feeds on fishes.

    Used in 25 profiles

  16. placoid scale

    Tooth-shaped scale-type found in certain fishes, e.g., sharks, rays. Structurally homologous with vertebrate teeth.

  17. planaria

    Generic term applied to numerous non-parasitic flatworms of the class Turbellaria. Also a genus within that class, Planaria. Various species occur in aquaria where they're most often associated with accumulation of uneaten food or organic material and normally considered pests.

  20. plankton

    Any organism, or more typically, collection of organisms drifting freely in a body of water. Used in reference to both microscopic, e.g. algae, fish larvae, and larger, e.g. jellyfish, organisms.

    Used in 15 profiles

  21. planktonic

    Of or relating to plankton.

    Used in 6 profiles

  22. planktonic bloom

    A visble population explosion in plankton, typically involving phytoplankton, and normally resulting from an increase or excess of available nutrients.

  23. plesiomorphy

    In cladistics, a character or trait shared by two or more taxonomic groups but derived from a remote or much earlier common ancestral form and therefore cannot be used to define a clade. Also known as an ancestral state and generally appears at the base level of a cladogram.

    Used in 2 profiles

  24. pluricuspid

    Having several cusps, as teeth.

    Used in 5 profiles

  25. poikilotherm

    An organism having a body temperature that varies with the temperature of its surroundings; a cold-blooded organism.

  26. polyandry

    Reproductive behaviour in which a female spawns with more than one male during the breeding season.

  27. polygamy

    Reproductive behaviour in which an individual spawns with more than a single partner during the breeding season.

  28. polygyny

    Reproductive behaviour in which a male spawns with more than one female during the breeding season.

    Used in 1 profile

  30. polymorphism

    The occurrence of different forms, stages, or types in individuals or multiple organisms of the same species independent of sexual variation.

    Used in 2 profiles

  31. polyp

    One of two types of body form occurring in coelenterates, comprising a hollow cylindrical body with a ring of tentacles around the mouth.

  32. polyphagous

    Feeding on numerous food types; having a generalistic diet.

  33. polyphyletic

    Relating to or characterised by descent from more than one ancestral form. A polyphyletic taxon is therefore one whose members' last common ancestor is not a member of the taxon.

    Used in 275 profiles

  34. polytomy

    A section of a phylogeny in which the evolutionary relationships can not be fully resolved to dichotomies.

    Used in 6 profiles

  36. population

    Group of individuals of a given taxon occupying a particular geographic area or specified habitat.

    Used in 487 profiles

  37. pore

    Small opening in a surface, especially the skin, through which gases, liquids or microscopic particles are able to pass, or through which a sensory organ obtains information.

    Used in 99 profiles

  38. pored scale

    A scale possessing a visible pore, e.g. a lateral line scale.

    Used in 38 profiles

  39. post-labial groove

    Shallow groove located behind one or both lips in certain fishes.

    Used in 5 profiles