Results for “species”

Aeromonas

A genus of rod-shaped, gram-negative bacteria found in fresh and salt water, soil, and sewage. Various species affect fishes while others are pathogenic to amphibians, reptiles, and higher animals including humans.

African Great Lakes

Series of water bodies mostly located in the East African rift including some of the oldest and deepest in the world, specifically lakes Victoria, Tanganyika, Malawi, Turkana, Albert, Kivu and Edward.

algae crab

Loose term used to describe any type of crab useful in an aquarium because it eats algae and/or diatoms. In marine aquaria this would include Sally Lightfoot, Emerald and various species of hermit crab. In freshwater the micro-crab Limnopilos naiyanetri fills the same role.

altruism

Behaviour benefitting other individuals of the same species, whether or not they are the offspring of the individual concerned. Frequently detrimental to the individual but favouring the spread or survival of its genes.

amphipod

A crustacean of the order Amphipoda, most of which are small and have a laterally-compressed shape. The suborder Gammaridea contains all freshwater species.

Used in 1 profile

andropodium

Modified, flexible anal fin rays present in males of some fish species (families Hemirhamphidae and Goodeidae) giving the fin a 'notched' appearance. Not used for insemination like the gonopodium in members of the family Poecillidae but to clasp the female during mating.

Used in 5 profiles

annual fish

A fish species which naturally completes its life cycle within a year at the end of which it dies leaving behind fertile eggs which typically survive in the soil and hatch during the next rainy season. Often used in reference to certain South American and African killifishes.

Used in 4 profiles

apomorphy

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

Used in 2 profiles

asexual reproduction

Mode of reproduction which does not involve fertilisation whereby offspring derive from a single parent and inherit genes only from that parent. Known in the Amazon Molly, Poecilia formosa, and some other fish species.

atypical

Not conforming to type; an abnormal specimen.

Used in 1 profile

Bacillus

Genus of Gram-positive, mostly rod-shaped, bacteria including both free-living and pathogenic species.

barb

In zoology, used to refer to a small spine projecting from a larger one; alternative name for spinule and, sometimes, barbel. Also used to refer to cyprinid fishes of the genera Barbus, Puntius, Systomus and related species.

Used in 189 profiles

batch spawner

A fish species which deposite eggs on more than a single occasion throughout a particular spawning season rather than within a short period.

benthopelagic

Used in reference to fish species living or feeding at or near the bottom of a water body. Some of these may also do so in the midwater or surface levels.

Used in 1 profile

binomial nomenclature

The scientific system of naming an organism using two terms, the first representing the genus and the second the species. Also referred to as 'scientific name' or, somewhat inaccurately, 'Latin name'.

biofilter

Pollution control technique employing living matter to capture and biologically degrade potential pollutants. Aquarium biofilters tend to contain a medium with a large specific surface area (SSA) favouring colonisation by billions of beneficial microorganisms.

Used in 6 profiles

blackwater

In ichthyological and aquarium literature typically refers to water rich in humic acids and poor in nutrients such as that associated with ancient peat swamps or parts of the Amazon river drainage, and thus differs from clearwater and whitewater. Fish species inhabiting such environments typically require similar conditions in captivity, especially if wild caught.

Used in 169 profiles

bloodworm

The freshwater larvae of certain midges which appear bright red due to their high haemoglobin content. Some species of the non-biting Chironomidae family are produced commerically for fish food with the larvae frozen or freeze-dried.

Used in 1,068 profiles

branchiostegal membrane

The membrane, sometimes referred to as the gill membrane, connecting the branchiostegal rays and enclosing the ventral portion of the branchial cavity. Normally extended when the opercle of a fish is open, sealing the branchial cavity and creating a vacuum in the mouth, and also used during threat, courtship and other communicative behaviours in many species.

Used in 5 profiles

breeding line

A group of identical, pure-breeding diploid or polyploid organisms, distinguished from others of the same species by a unique phenotype and genotype. Important in production of line breeding ornamental fish strains.