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.
Glossary: abdomen
Glossary: aberrant
Departing from an accepted standard.
Glossary: abiotic
Non-living. Abiotic factors in an environment include such items as sunlight, temperature, wind patterns, and precipitation, for example.
Glossary: acclimatisation
See acclimation.
Glossary: acid
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.
Glossary: acidic
Acid; tending to form an acid; having a pH less than 7.0; having a relatively high concentration of hydrogen ions.
Glossary: acidophile
An organism which naturally dwells in an acidic environment.
Glossary: acidophilic
Thriving in an acidic environment.
Glossary: acriflavine
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.
Glossary: Actinopterygii
Class of ray-finned fishes, so-called because they possess fin rays. Contains 95%+ of known fish species.
Glossary: activated carbon
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 […]
Glossary: acuminate
Tapering or pointed. Used to describe the shape of the caudal fin in some fishes.
Glossary: adaptive radiation
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.
Glossary: adductor
A muscle whose contraction moves a limb or other part of the body towards the midline of the body or other part.
Glossary: adipose
Of, relating to or composed of animal fat.
Glossary: adipose crest
Fatty ridge of flesh extending along the dorsal or ventral surface of the caudal peduncle in certain fishes, e.g., some Schistura spp.
Glossary: adipose eyelid
Transparent eyelid present in some fishes, that covers some or all of the eye.
Glossary: adipose tissue
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.
Glossary: adipose-fin
A small, fleshy, rayless fin present in certain fishes and located behind the dorsal fin.
Glossary: adsorption
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.
Major Changes in New World Cichlid Taxonomy
Reclassification of Genera: Several genera have been reclassified or merged. For example, the genus Cichlasoma has been split into multiple genera, an...
6th Nov 2024
Aphyosemion rectogoense
Many thanks cyprin, the image has now been removed.
31st Oct 2024
Product reviewers wanted
Hello! Very much interested in writing for you, please include me in the info. Thank you for the opportunity!
6th Sep 2020
Product reviewers wanted
I would be interested in reviewing products. Before retiring I was a technical writer and managed a Quality Management Program.
30th Aug 2020
Product reviewers wanted
I'm interested and can write reviews from the perspective of someone new to the hobby. I'm only 3-4 months in, but hopefully I can help someone that's...
23rd Aug 2020