pelvic fin

American  

noun

1. (in fishes) either of a pair of fins on the lower surface of the body, corresponding to the hind limbs of a land vertebrate; ventral fin.

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pelvic fin British  

noun

1. either of a pair of fins attached to the pelvic girdle of fishes that help to control the direction of movement during locomotion

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Etymology

Origin of pelvic fin

First recorded in 1905–10

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pelvic fin

The new reconstruction of the skeleton also sheds light on specializations for head mobility in Tiktaalik and new details of the fish's pelvic fin anatomy.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 5, 2024

These funny-looking fish latch onto rocks and seaweed, using a modified pelvic fin on their underside that acts like a suction cup to help them hang out until something tasty swims by.

From New York Times ● Jul. 19, 2022

Phallon Tullis-Joyce will insist it was the Pacific spiny lumpsucker, a bony fish with a suction cup pelvic fin that helps it attach to surfaces.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 30, 2022

Other species of pupfish live across the south-western US, but Devils Hole pupfish are physiologically unique: they’re smaller and lack the pelvic fin that their cousins use to swim faster.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 29, 2019

I drew a pectoral fin on the side and a pelvic fin on the bottom to help the shark move up and down.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen

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