Pointing or otherwise orientated forward or upward; opposite of retrorse.

Opening at the lower end of the alimentary canal through which solid waste is excreted.

Refers to the tip or cusp of an oral tooth, or denotes orientation towards the apex or tip of a fin, fin-spine, etc..

Also known as ovoviviparity. Method of reproduction employed by certain fishes in which the eggs are fertilised and develop inside the female but there is no placental connection. The juveniles are free-swimming and able to feed as soon as they leave the female's body.

Fishes lacking pelvic fins.

An organism existing in an evolutionary state that represents a morphological advance compared to a previous state. Occurs at an evolutionary branching point and is subsequently carried through only a single descendant group.

A derived character state of a clade; a feature novel to a species and its descendants.

Commerical production of marine or freshwater food fish or shellfish under controlled conditions. Sometimes referred to as 'fish farming'.

A person studying aquatic life or maintaining organisms in an aquarium, whether as a hobby or profession.

Type of vivarium containing water. Normally transparent, made of glass, plastic or acrylic and used to display, breed or otherwise maintain ornamental fishes.

To arrange plants and other décor in an aquarium, the art of which is a hobby itself for many people. Also refers to the completed display once all décor has been added.

The process of or hobby concerned with creating an aquascape or aquascapes.

Growing, living, or otherwise found in water.

Of, similar to, containing, or dissolved in water.

A subterranean bed or layer of permeable rock, sediment or soil that bears water. Naturally-occuring springs and wells are fed by aquifers.

Naturally-occurring, crsytalline form of calcium carbonate with a notable buffering capacity. Popular as a substrate or substrate additive in marine and freshwater aquaria where pH and hardness must be maintained at high levels, and has a more rapid, effective effect than coral sand, for example.

A commonly-occurring genus of fish louse.

Used in reference to certain fishes which have protective, typically bony, plates or scutes on the body, e.g., armoured catfishes.

Commonly known as brine shrimp; a genus of phyllopod crustacean inhabiting salt lakes and brines. Cultivated as food for aquarium fishes and available live, frozen or freeze-dried. Its newly-hatched nauplii are also a popular food for fish fry.

Involving, relating to, or supplied by the upward movement of water under hydrostatic pressure in rocks or unconsolidated material beneath the earth’s surface.