The lower part of the body that lies in front of the cloaca and contains the digestive and reproductive organs; also referred to as the belly.

Departing from an accepted standard.

Non-living. Abiotic factors in an environment include such items as sunlight, temperature, wind patterns, and precipitation, for example.

See acclimation.

A substance that can donate protons or accept pairs of electrons. The chemical opposite of a base. Acids have a pH of less than 7.

Acid; tending to form an acid; having a pH less than 7.0; having a relatively high concentration of hydrogen ions.

An organism which naturally dwells in an acidic environment.

Thriving in an acidic environment.

An antiseptic used to treat external fungal plus general bacterial and protozoan infections in ornamental fishes and disinfect fish eggs in aquaculture. Also known as Acriflavinium chloride, ie., the chemical compound from which it is formed.

Class of ray-finned fishes, so-called because they possess fin rays. Contains 95%+ of known fish species.

Processed, porous, highly adsorptive form of carbon also known as activated charcoal or active carbon. Used in aquaria to remove toxins such as chlorine, chloramine, some heavy metals, and especially organic molecules, but exerts no action on ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate or inorganic salts. Since it has a finite surface area it requires periodic replacement […]

Tapering or pointed. Used to describe the shape of the caudal fin in some fishes.

Speciation of a taxonomic group into several forms, each specialised to fill a previously vacant ecological niche, as exemplified by Rift Lake cichlids, for example.

A muscle whose contraction moves a limb or other part of the body towards the midline of the body or other part.

Of, relating to or composed of animal fat.

Fatty ridge of flesh extending along the dorsal or ventral surface of the caudal peduncle in certain fishes, e.g., some Schistura spp.

Transparent eyelid present in some fishes, that covers some or all of the eye.

Type of connective tissue composed of cells specialised for production and storage of fat globules. The principle means of fat storage in the animal body.

A small, fleshy, rayless fin present in certain fishes and located behind the dorsal fin.

The process by which molecules of a substance are attracted to and accumulate on the surface of another substance, such as a solid, but do not enter it. Activated carbon is highly adsorptive.