homocercal

homocercalswordfish tail

ho·mo·cer·cal

H0256000 (hō′mə-sûr′kəl, hŏm′ə-)adj. Relating to, designating, or characterized by a tail fin having two symmetrical lobes extending from the end of the vertebral column, as in most bony fishes.

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[homo- + Greek kerkos, tail + -al.]

homocercal

(ˌhəʊməʊˈsɜːkəl; ˌhɒm-) adj (Zoology) ichthyol of or possessing a symmetrical tail that extends beyond the end of the vertebral column, as in most bony fishes. Compare heterocercal[C19: from homo- + Greek kerkos tail]

ho•mo•cer•cal

(ˌhoʊ məˈsɜr kəl, ˌhɒm ə-)

adj. having an equally divided tail, characteristic of adult modern bony fishes. [1830–40; homo- + Greek kérk(os) tail + -al¹] ho′mo•cer`cy (-ˌsɜr si) n.

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

homocercal - possessing a symmetrical tail that extends beyond the end of the vertebral column (as in most bony fishes)ichthyology - the branch of zoology that studies fishesheterocercal - possessing a tail with the upper lobe larger than the lower and with the vertebral column prolonged into the upper lobe