Dictionary of ichthyology. 2009.
Heterocercal — Het er*o*cer cal, a. [Hetero + Gr. ? tail.] (Anat.) Having the vertebral column evidently continued into the upper lobe of the tail, which is usually longer than the lower one, as in sharks. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
heterocercal — [het΄ər ō΄sʉr′kəl] adj. [< HETERO + Gr kerkos, a tail + AL] designating, of, or having a tail fin in which the upper lobe is larger than the lower and contains the upturned end of the spinal column, as in certain fishes, esp. sharks … English World dictionary
heterocercal — adjective Date: 1838 1. of a fish tail fin having the upper lobe larger than the lower with the vertebral column extending into the upper lobe 2. having or relating to a heterocercal tail fin … New Collegiate Dictionary
heterocercal — heterocercality /het euhr oh seuhr kal i tee/, n. /het euhr euh serr keuhl/, adj. Ichthyol. having an unequally divided tail, characteristic of sharks, rays, and skates. Cf. diphycercal, homocercal. [1830 40; HETERO + Gk kérk(os) a tail + AL1] *… … Universalium
heterocercal — adjective Of a fishs tail, such that the vertebral column bends and extends upwards into the upper lobe of the tail, making it larger than the lower lobe; as in sharks, rays, and skates. Ant: homocercal See Also: heterocerc … Wiktionary
heterocercal — het·ero·cer·cal … English syllables
heterocercal — het•er•o•cer•cal [[t]ˌhɛt ər əˈsɜr kəl[/t]] adj. ich designating or having a tail fin in which the upper lobe is larger than the lower lobe, as in sharks • Etymology: 1830–40; hetero + Gk kérk(os) tail + al I … From formal English to slang
heterocercal — /hɛtəroʊˈsɜkəl/ (say hetuhroh serkuhl) adjective 1. having an asymmetrical tail or caudal fin, the backbone running into a much larger upper lobe, as in sharks. 2. denoting such a tail or caudal fin. Compare homocercal. {hetero + Greek kerkos… …
heterocercal — adjective possessing a tail with the upper lobe larger than the lower and with the vertebral column prolonged into the upper lobe • Ant: ↑homocercal • Topics: ↑ichthyology … Useful english dictionary
heterocercal fin — noun a tail fin with unequal lobes in which the vertebral column turns upward into the larger lobe as in sharks • Ant: ↑homocercal fin • Hypernyms: ↑tail fin, ↑caudal fin … Useful english dictionary
