heterocercal

[het-er-uh-sur-kuhl]

adjective

Ichthyology.

1. having an unequally divided tail, characteristic of sharks, rays, and skates.

heterocercal

/ ˌhɛtərəʊˈsɜːkəl /

adjective

1. ichthyol of or possessing a tail in which the vertebral column turns upwards and extends into the upper, usually larger, lobe, as in sharks Compare homocercal

Other Word Forms

• heterocercality noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of heterocercal¹

1830–40; hetero- + Greek kérk ( os ) a tail + -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of heterocercal¹

C19: from _hetero- + Greek kerkos tail

Example Sentences

They have small scales, a heterocercal tail, and two dorsal fins with a strong spine in front.

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Their tails, too, though both heterocercal, were diverse in their type.

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This so called heterocercal tail is only known to exist, as a permanent adult feature, in the sturgeons of to-day.

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