Ichthyological terms, not general ones.
Specialised, toughened, elastic, fibrous connective tissue found in various parts of the body and forming the temporary skeleton in embryonic and very young fishes, but mostly lost as the majority of species mature. Retained throughout life in cartilaginous fishes.
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A fish with a skeleton composed mainly of cartilage; major groups include sharks, rays and skates.
Primitive, cartilaginous skeletal structure enclosing the brain and inner ear formed in the embryo and usally becoming ossified at a later stage. Retained as cartilage throughout life in some fishes.
A compound bone formed by the fusion of the dermal angular and the cartilaginous articular and comprising the posterior part of the lower jaw.
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Of, being, or relating to a median ventral cartilage or bony element located at the ventral point of a branchial arch, behind the tongue if the latter is present.
Basal bone or cartilage located at the base of the paired fins in some fishes.
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One of the bony or cartilaginous arches situated on either side of the pharynx that form the support for the gills.
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One of the dermal, bony (sometimes cartilaginous), bilaterally paired, flattened struts inserting on the epihyal and/or ceratohyal (sometimes the interhyal and hypohyal) that supports the branchiostegal membranes.
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Longest bones or cartilages of the branchial arches, located beneath the epibranchials.
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The main constituent protein of cartilage, connective tissue, tendon, skin, and bone.
Bone-type ossifying directly from connective tissue membranes and thus lacking a cartilaginous predecessor. Tend to be more numerous in primitive fish forms.
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Subclass of Chondrichthyes, also known as cartilaginous fishes, that includes the sharks, skates and rays.
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Bone or cartilage forming the upper part of the gill arch, positioned between the ceratobranchial and pharyngobranchial.
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Membranous appendage supported by cartilage or bony rays. Used for locomotion, steering, and balance by fishes and some other aquatic organisms.
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Bony or cartilaginous arch in the pharynx to which the gill filaments and rakers are attached.
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Any of the bony or cartilaginous structures forming the framework of the mouth, usually vertically opposed, often bearing teeth and primarily used for acquisition of food. Often modified in fishes to form complex protrusible or sucking arrangements, for example.
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A bony or cartilaginous arch-shaped structure arising from the dorsal side of a vertebra and enclosing the spinal cord.
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Superclass of fishes possessing bony, as opposed to cartilaginous, skeletons. Also known as bony fishes.
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Bony or cartilaginous structure supporting the forelimbs or anterior fins in vertebrates.
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Bony or cartilaginous structure supporting the pelvic fins. Sometimes fused with the pectoral girdle.
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