Results for “character”

coral

Any marine animal of the class Anthozoa, these being characterised by possessing a horny or calcareous skeleton, aggregations of which form coral reefs and islands.

Used in 13 profiles

coralline algae

Any red algae of the order Corallinales, characterised by possession of a hard thallus containing calcareous deposits. Often pink, purple or red in colour.

crustacean

Any member of the predominantly aquatic arthropod grouping Crustacea which currently contains almost 70,000 recognised species, including all crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill and barnacles. It's difficult to define their characteristics since the group is of arguable hierarchical status, generally regarded to represent either a Phylum or Subphylum.

Used in 421 profiles

ctenii

The minute projections characteristic of ctenoid scales.

Used in 1 profile

Cyclops

Genus of freshwater copepods characterised and so named by possession of a single, large, median eye. Sometimes cultured as food for fry or very small fishes.

Used in 8 profiles

diapause

Period of suspended development in an organism characterised by greatly reduced metabolic rate; resting phase. Especially common under times of environmental stress, e.g., hibernation, aestivation.

Used in 3 profiles

dichotomy

A division of organisms into two groups, typically based on a characteristic present in one group and absent in the other.

dimorphism

In biology, the occurrence within a species of two forms which differ distinctly from one another in one or more characters, e.g., colour pattern or morphology.

Used in 2 profiles

frontoparietal

Relating to or characteristic of the frontal and parietal bones.

gene

Basic hereditary unit comprising a sequence of nuceleotides within a strand of DNA or RNA and occupying a fixed position on a chromosome. Generally determines a particular character or trait present in an organism by directing production and activity of RNA.

Used in 10 profiles

genus

Taxonomic group into which a family is divided and which contains one or more species characterised by a shared trait or traits. The generic name is used, either alone or followed by one or two specific epithets, to form a binomen or trinomen.

Used in 1,386 profiles

homologous

Exhibiting a a degree of similarity, e.g., in anatomical position, structure, function, or character that may suggest a shared ancestral or evolutionary origin.

homoplasy

A character or trait shared by two or more unrelated taxa. Typically the result of convergent or parallel evolution.

ich

Common name for Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, a protozoan which infects freshwater fish. Commonly referred to as white spot due to the characteristic white nodules formed under the skin or gill tissue during the feeding stage of its life cycle.

Used in 18 profiles

labyrinth fish

Any member of the freshwater fish suborder Anabantoidei, characterised by possession of a labyrinth organ.

Used in 18 profiles

melanism

Abnormal extent of dark colouration in the skin, scales, hair, fur, or feathers characterised by excessive depositis of melanin. Can be considered the opposite of albinism.

meristic

Having a number of parts, or divided into repeated, countable features; segmented; of or related to such characters.

Used in 13 profiles

meristics

In ichthyology, the counting of quantitative characters, such as the number of fins, fin rays or scales.

Used in 8 profiles

monophyletic

Used in reference to a taxonomic group containing all descendants of a single, often hypothetical, common ancestor, often characterised by one or more synapomorphies. A clade is a monophyletic group.

Used in 330 profiles

neoteny

Form of paedomorphism characterised by retention of juvenile features in an adult individual via slowed or delayed maturation.