Anatomy and Terms

Fish can be broken down into six distinct sections which are fins, skin, vertebrae, jaw, organs, and reproductive system. So, I will endeavour to give as much information as I can and will be updating this page for awhile. Let’s start with the fins.

Here are the labels and description for these fins.

Fins

The first distinctive feature of a fish are the fins.
These are made up of bony spines which protrude from the fishes body and are joined together in a webbed fashion and covered with skin or appear as a flipper.

The purpose of the fins are to aid in the ability of a fish to swim.
They can also be used for gliding or crawling.
The position of each fin has a different purpose whether it be to move forward, turn or stay upright.

Abdominal Pelvics
Pelvic fins located on the abdomen far behind the pectoral fins; pelvic bones do not attach to the pectoral girdle.

Accessory Pelvic Appendage
A tapered fleshy lobe above the base of the pelvic fin.

Adipose fin
A small fleshy fin with no rays, located between the dorsal and caudal fins.

Anal Fin
The fin located on the ventral median line and behind the anus.

Caudal Fin
Simply, the tail fin.

Dorsal Fin
The fins located on the back of fish and in front of the adipose fin, if it is present. A fish can have up to three of them. These dorsal fins serve to protect the fish against rolling, and assists in sudden turns and stops.

Jugular Pelvics
Pelvic fins in front of the pectoral fins.

Pectoral Fins
The anterior(front) paired fins, attached to pectoral (shoulder) girdle.

Pelvic Fins
Posterior paired fins, located in the abdominal position or towards the rear.