Definition of heterocercal in English:
heterocercal
adjective ˌhɛtərəʊˈsəːkəlˌhedərōˈsərk(ə)l
Zoology (of a fish's tail) having unequal upper and lower lobes, usually with the vertebral column passing into the upper.
Contrasted with diphycercal, homocercal
Example sentencesExamples
- The body shows well-developed paired lateral fins (presumably true pectoral fins), indicating good stability, dorsal and anal fins, and a heterocercal tail (the lower lobe of the tail is elongated).
- The tail is heterocercal, with the upper lobe containing long, thread-like filaments.
- While the classical view of shark tail function was corroborated by the three-dimensional kinematic study of leopard sharks, the pattern of heterocercal tail function in sturgeon proved to be quite different.
- The sturgeon heterocercal tail is extremely flexible and the upper tail lobe trails the lower during the fin beat cycle.
- They also have a cartilaginous skeleton, heterocercal tail, and lack scales.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from hetero- 'other' + Greek kerkos 'tail'.
Definition of heterocercal in US English:
heterocercal
adjectiveˌhedərōˈsərk(ə)l
Zoology (of a fish's tail) having unequal upper and lower lobes, usually with the vertebral column passing into the upper.
Contrasted with diphycercal, homocercal
Example sentencesExamples
- While the classical view of shark tail function was corroborated by the three-dimensional kinematic study of leopard sharks, the pattern of heterocercal tail function in sturgeon proved to be quite different.
- The tail is heterocercal, with the upper lobe containing long, thread-like filaments.
- The sturgeon heterocercal tail is extremely flexible and the upper tail lobe trails the lower during the fin beat cycle.
- They also have a cartilaginous skeleton, heterocercal tail, and lack scales.
- The body shows well-developed paired lateral fins (presumably true pectoral fins), indicating good stability, dorsal and anal fins, and a heterocercal tail (the lower lobe of the tail is elongated).
Origin
Mid 19th century: from hetero- ‘other’ + Greek kerkos ‘tail’.