Ichthyological terms, not general ones.
In ichthyology, any characteristic or its attributes used for recognising, describing, defining, or differentiating species, genera or higher taxa. Also used in phylogenetic analyses whereby ancestral (primitive) characters are termed plesiomorphic and derived (novel) characters apomorphic.
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Physical character based on measurement, e.g. standard length.
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See derived trait.
A countable trait, e.g., the number of rays in a fin, gill rakers, lateral line scales, etc..
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Used in phylogenetics in reference to a character or character state not present in the ancestral form of a species; apomorphic.
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The passing of characteristics or traits from parent or ancestor to offspring or later generations; the sum of such inherited features or their characteristics.
The value or item occurring most frequently in a series of observations or statistical data. Often quoted in relation to a meristic character or characters.
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A derived character state of a clade; a feature novel to a species and its descendants.
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Any member of the phylum Arthropoda, these being characterised by a (usually) chitinous exoskeleton and segmented body to which jointed appendages are attached in pairs. Arthropods include the insects, crustaceans, arachnids, myriapods, and extinct trilobites, and comprise the largest phylum in the animal kingdom.
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A major regional or global biotic community normally characterised by the dominant vegetation and local climatic conditions, e.g., deserts, tropical rainforests, tundra. The two major aquatic biomes are freshwater and marine but these are often broken down into less-generalised categories.
A biological region defined by characteristics of the natural environment rather than by man-made divisions and tending to contain distinctive flora, fauna and ecosystems. Also known as 'ecoregion'.
A mollusc belonging to the class Bivalvia which includes clams, oysters, mussels, scallops, etc.. Members are characterised by possessing a shell comprising two hinged valves.
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Composed of, containing, or characteristic of calcium carbonate, calcium, or limestone; chalky.
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Reproductive strategy characteristic of certain fishes, e.g., many cichlids, in which eggs in a cavity, cave or similar. The clutch is normally guarded aggressively by one or both parents. Such species may also be referred to as 'cave brooders/breeders'.
Any marine mollusc of the class Cephalopoda which includes octopus, squid, cuttlefish, and nautilus. Characterised by possession of a large head and eyes, prehensile tentacles, and, in most species, a specialised sac containing a dark, inky fluid used in defensive behaviour.
Any member of a group of protozoans characterised by possession of cilia.
Taxonomical method used to classify species of organisms into clades, each of which contains an ancestor organism and all its descendants, based on synapomorphies (shared derived characters). Cladistic classifications are usually presented in the form of a cladogram.
Phylum of aquatic organisms that includes the corals, jellyfishes, sea anemones, hydrae, etc., and characterised by possession of specialised venomous cells known as cnidocytes. Formerly included in the now-defunct phylum Coelenterata.
Of, relating to, characterised by or participating in a symbiotic relationship in which one species gains some benefit while the other is unaffected.
The tendency of unrelated animals and plants to evolve superficially comparable characteristics under similar environmental conditions.