Results for “scale”

lateral series

Line of scales extending along scales along the flank. Used in meristic counts when the lateral line is absent or incompletely pored.

Used in 50 profiles

contact organ

Dermal, bony growth or spicule normally protruding from one or more fin rays or scale margins. Present on parts of the body or fins that come into contact with the female during spawning in males of some fishes.

Used in 9 profiles

ctenii

The minute projections characteristic of ctenoid scales.

Used in 1 profile

guanine

Crystalline chemical compound giving a metallic, iridescent golden, silvery, white, blue or greenish sheen to the scales of certain fishes. Occurs naturally in some fish species but in others its formation is driven by parasitic infection.

Used in 4 profiles

lamella

Thin layer, plate, scale, or membrane of bone or other tissue.

lamina circularis

Bony process or plate at the base of the first ( unbranched ) and second ( first branched ) ray of the pectoral-fin in most male specimens of the family Cobitidae. It is also known as 'Canestrini's scale'.

Used in 24 profiles

lateral line

Sensory organ comprising a series of neuromasts running along the head and flanks and used to detect movement and vibration in the surrounding water. Also known as the lateralis system and visible as one or more rows of pored scales of varying length in many fishes.

Used in 366 profiles

lepidophagy

Feeding on the scales of other fishes.

Used in 8 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 character

A countable trait, e.g., the number of rays in a fin, gill rakers, lateral line scales, etc..

Used in 4 profiles

meristics

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

Used in 8 profiles

naked

In ichthyology, scaleless or smooth skin.

Used in 72 profiles

pH

Measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH around 7.0, solutions with pH of less than 7.0 acidic and greater than 7.0 basic or alkaline. Measured on a logarithmic scale of 0.0-14.0 whereby a change of a single unit represents a ten-fold increase in acidity or basicity/alkalinity, i.e., a solution with a pH of 4.0 is ten times more acidic than one of 5.0., and 100 times more acidic than one of 6.0. Some fishes require a relatively specific pH in aquaria, while others are more generalised, with the former requirement often-reduced in captive-bred examples.

Used in 397 profiles

scaly

Covered in or resembling scales.

Used in 3 profiles

scute

Horny, bony external plate or modified scale found in some fishes.

Used in 11 profiles