spiny-finned
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Relating to fish possessing fins with rigid, sharp rays or spines: The term describes a characteristic of certain fish, specifically those belonging to the large taxonomic group (Acanthopterygii) whose fins are supported by spiny, bony rays, as opposed to soft, flexible rays.
Usage
- The adjective spiny-finned is used almost exclusively in zoological and ichthyological contexts to classify or describe fish.
- It typically precedes a noun (e.g., spiny-finned fish) or follows a linking verb like "is" or "are."
Examples
- Adjective:
- The perch is a common example of a spiny-finned fish.
- This order includes most of the world's spiny-finned species.
- Researchers studied the evolution of spiny-finned teleosts.
Advanced Usage
- In Taxonomic Classification: The term is often used to refer to the superorder Acanthopterygii, a major group of ray-finned fish.
- The spiny-finned fishes (Acanthopterygii) comprise a vast and diverse group.
Variants and Related Words
- Acanthopterygian (n): A member of the spiny-finned fish superorder Acanthopterygii.
- An acanthopterygian like a tuna has highly developed spiny rays in its fins.
Synonyms
- Acanthopterygian (adj): Pertaining to the spiny-finned fishes. (This is a more technical synonym.)
Antonyms
- Soft-finned (adj): Relating to fish (like salmon or carp) whose fins are supported primarily by soft, segmented rays.
- The catfish, a soft-finned fish, lacks the dorsal spines of its spiny-finned relatives.
Adjective
- of or relating to fish with spiny fins