heterocercal

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *sem-

Proto-Indo-European *sḿ̥teros

Proto-Hellenic *hə́teros

Ancient Greek ἕτερος (héteros)lbor.

English hetero-

English cercal

English heterocercal

From hetero- + cercal.

Adjective

heterocercal (comparative more heterocercal, superlative most heterocercal)

1. (ichthyology) Of a fish's 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.

Antonyms

• homocercal

Coordinate terms

• diphycercal
• homocercal
• protocercal

Derived terms

• hemiheterocercal
• heterocercality

Related terms

• heterocerc
• heterocercy