Glossary

91 terms beginning with M · showing 1–40

1. macro-

   Prefix meaning large; of great size.

   Used in 2 profiles

2. macrophyte

   An aquatic plant large enough to be seen with the naked eye.

   Used in 27 profiles

3. malachite green

   Green dye used as an antibacterial, antiparasitic, and antifungal agent in aquaria.

   Used in 1 profile

4. mandible

   The lower jaw bone of a vertebrate organism.

   Used in 2 profiles

5. mangrove

   May refer to a mangrove swamp habitat and all species inhabiting it, only the trees and shrubs found in such a habitat, or more specifically, mangrove trees of the genus Rhizophora.

   Used in 31 profiles

6. mangrove forest

   See mangrove swamp.

7. mangrove swamp

   Tropical or subtropical, tidal marine swamp chaaracterised by an abundance of mangrove trees.

   Used in 20 profiles

8. mangrove tree

   Tree or shrub of the families Rhizophoraceae and Verbenaceae or Avicenniaceae chiefly occurring in a mangrove swamp environment.

9. mantle

   Protective layer of epidermis in molluscs from which the shell is secreted in many species.

10. Maracyn

    Broad spectrum antibiotic containing the active ingredient erythromycin. Used to treat gram-positive bacterial diseases and fungal infections.

11. Maracyn-2

    Broad spectrum antibiotic with the active ingredient minocycline. Used to treat internal and external gram-negative bacterial infections.

12. marbled

    Having a streaked or mottled appearance similar to variegated marble.

    Used in 12 profiles

13. margin

    Edge or rim.

    Used in 265 profiles

14. marginal

    Of, relating to, or locate on the edge or margin of something; a semi-aquatic plant growing near the margin of a water body.

    Used in 276 profiles

15. marine

    Of, relating to, native to, inhabiting, or formed by the sea or ocean.

    Used in 95 profiles

16. matrotrophy

    Reproductive strategy in which the embryo is supplied with additional nutrition from the mother, applied to some viviparous fishes.

    Used in 1 profile

17. mature

    Fully-grown; adult.

    Used in 953 profiles

18. maxilla

    Either of two fused bones forming the upper jaw, displaced inwardly by the premaxilla in some fishes. May bear teeth.

    Used in 38 profiles

19. maxillary

    Of or relating to a maxilla; a jawbone.

    Used in 50 profiles

20. maxillary barbel

    Barbel originating from the distal end of the maxilla on the side of the mouth.

    Used in 143 profiles

21. meander

    A curve, bend or loop along the course of a river or stream.

22. mechanical filtration

    Type of filtration that physically removes solid particles and objects from the water.

    Used in 33 profiles

23. medial

    Relating to, situated on or in, or extending towards the middle; median. Opposite of lateral.

    Used in 183 profiles

24. median

    See medial.

25. melanin

    Any of various black, dark brown, reddish-brown, or yellow pigments found in animal or plants.

26. melanism

    Abnormal extent of dark colouration in the skin, scales, hair, fur, or feathers characterised by excessive depositis of melanin. Can be considered the opposite of albinism.

27. melanophore

    Pigment cell containing melanin.

28. membrane

    Thin, usually flexible layer of tissue covering, lining, separating, or connecting cells or parts of an organism.

    Used in 67 profiles

29. membranous

    Relating to, composed of or similar to a membrane.

    Used in 8 profiles

30. meniscus

    Curve caused by surface tension visible in the upper surface of a liquid close to the side of a container or other object. My be concave or convex in shape depending on the liquid and surface involved.

31. mental

    Of, relating to, or located on the chin.

    Used in 85 profiles

32. mental barbel

    Barbel located on the chin.

    Used in 7 profiles

33. meristic

    Having a number of parts, or divided into repeated, countable features; segmented; of or related to such characters.

    Used in 13 profiles

34. meristic character

    A countable trait, e.g., the number of rays in a fin, gill rakers, lateral line scales, etc..

    Used in 4 profiles

35. meristics

    In ichthyology, the counting of quantitative characters, such as the number of fins, fin rays or scales.

    Used in 8 profiles

36. mesethmoid

    Skull bone separating the nasal cavities.

    Used in 20 profiles

37. mesial

    Of, in, or orientated towards the middle line of a body.

    Used in 2 profiles

38. meso-

    Prefix meaning middle or mid.

    Used in 4 profiles

39. mesocoracoid

    Paired bone situated in the pectoral girdle, below the cleithrum.

40. Mesozoic (Era)

    Interval of geological time covering the period from around 250 million years ago to 65 million years ago. Often referred to as the 'Age of Reptiles' because dinosaurs were the dominant terrestrial and marine vertebrates.