lateral line

American  

noun

1. the line, or system of lines, of sensory structures along the head and sides of fishes and amphibians, by which the animal is believed to detect water current and pressure changes and vibrations.

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lateral line Scientific  

1. A series of tubelike canals along the head and sides of fish and some amphibians by which vibrations, as from water currents, and changes in pressure are detected.

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Etymology

Origin of lateral line

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

In the cownose ray, the lateral line runs the length of the tail and branches off to pores in the fish’s skin, which they likely use to process information about their environment.

From Salon • Feb. 10, 2025

Instead, like many aquatic vertebrates, the fish apparently relies on its lateral line — a system of sense organs that can detect movement and vibration in the surrounding water.

From New York Times • Jun. 29, 2015

This is a video of a lateral line, an organ that allows fish to sense water movement, developing in a zebra fish.

From Reuters • Apr. 27, 2015

Tadpoles usually have gills, a lateral line system, long-finned tails, but no limbs.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

The lateral line canal shows only as the impression of a continuous canal 0.7 mm. in diameter.

From A New Genus of Pennsylvania Fish (Crossoperygii, Coelacanthiformes) from Kansas by Echols, Joan