A (Glossary)

A – = Gk prefix that indicates the lack of a certain thing or property (i.e aphagous = with no abilities for feeding, aphotic = with no light, anhydrous= without water)

Abdomen = The belly or lower surface of a fish, between the pelvic fins and the anus.

abdominal dropsy = A disorder characterized by oedema (accumulation of excess fluid) in the abdomen, which causes abdominal swelling and marked protruding of the scales (pineapple look). A variety of diseases can be the underlying cause, including bacterial infection, viral infection, as well as nutritional deficiencies.  Other conditions that produce a swollen abdomen include: overeating, internal worms, and pregnancy. However, none of these result in the marked swelling with protruding scales that is seen in dropsy.

Aberrant = abnormal, unusual (for behaviour, organ / tissue function or even form)

Abyss = Gk originated word (original Abyssos), which indicates the part of the oceans between 4.000 m and 7.000 m of depth

Abyssal plain = the flat regions of the abyss

Abyssopelagic = the oceanic zone originated at the abyss

Acantho- = Gk for spine, spine related

Acanthopterygii = (Taxonomy) Class which includes the family Cichlidae

Acclimation = the normal (physical) adaptation of organisms in specific environments

Acoustic – acoustics = Gk term related to sounds (as a science, including the production, transmission and effects of sounds)

Acoustic communication = communication using sounds. Cichlids are also able to communicate with sounds.

Active = (for metabolism) the consumption of oxygen of a moving fish

Adaptation = the ability of an organism to “fit” or “blend” into an environment. Organisms which cannot adapt to a specific environment or changes that happen to it are usually driven to extinction.

Adipose = the fleshy fin without rays that is located behind the dorsal fin and it is present on some primitive fishes (Osteichthys) belong to the Characidae, Salmonidae and Synodontidae families. The original term means fatty

Adult = fully developed fishes (from their morphological aspect and meristic characteristics), being also sexually matured.

Aero – = Gk prefix that indicates relation with the air

Aerobic = the ones that need atmospheric air to live, reproduce, function and thrive

Akaryotic = cells without nuclei

Algae (sin. alga) = Gk word for plants that occur in aquatic environments

Algal bed = surfaces covered with algae (usually Sargassum and Turbinaria genera, but also for P. oceanica)

Algivore = Organisms feeding on algae.

Allele = In the case of diploid organisms (two chromosomes of each type in the nucleus of each cell) this term refers to the gene on the other chromosome which encodes for the same characteristic. Thus in a diploid organism (like humans) there are two alleles. The two alleles may have the same information for this characteristic (homozygous) or different (heterozygous). In this case only one of the genes is expressed (dominant) while the other remains “silent” (recessive). In some cases, there are two different alleles, which are both expressed (e.g. human blood groups, ABO system).

Allo – = Gk word for other, different

Allopatric population = Similar but slightly different species which do not live in the same place

Allopatric speciation = The process by which part of a species adapts to a new environment and finally becomes a different species.

Allopatry = Gk Occurring in separate, non overlapping geographic areas. Often used of populations of related organisms unable to cross breed because of geographic separation.

Allotype = Gk originated word that indicates the differences between the forms of a certain organism of opposite sex, according the holotype (see relevant entry)

Altruism = Instinctive cooperative behaviour that is detrimental or without reproductive benefit to the individual but that contributes to the survival of the group to which the individual belongs. The willingness of a subordinate member of a wolf pack to forgo mating and help care for the dominant pair's pups is an example of altruistic behaviour. While the individual may not reproduce, or may reproduce less often, its behaviour helps ensure that a close relative does successfully reproduce, thus passing on a large share of the altruistic individual's genetic material.

Ambush predator = the predator that remains hidden and waits for it prey to approach

Amphi – = Gk pronoun that indicates both when referring to two different situations or things

Amphibians = Organisms which spend part of their life in the water and part on shore.

Amphidromous = Gk word for the migratory species, which they migrate from the sea to fresh water bodies and vice versa for breeding purposes

Amphihaline = Gk word for aquatic organisms occur both in marine and fresh water bodies

Amphipods = part of the crustaceans’ group (for instance the shrimps)

Ana – = Gk pronoun for back, over

Anabolism = part of the metabolism which indicates these biochemical processes that take place when happens energy storage or formation of tissues

Anadromous = migratory species, which they migrate from the sea to fresh water bodies for breeding purposes

Anaerobic = the ones that do not need atmospheric air to live, reproduce, function and thrive

Anal = the region of the anus (as anal fin)

Androgens = Male (genetic) hormones.

Anisogamy = The difference in the size of the gametes, the small being the sperm (male) and the large being the egg (female)

Anus = the exit of the digestive track

Anatolia = central region of Turkey

Anchovies = fishes belong to the family Engraulidae (i.e. herrings)

Annelids = worm like invertebrate animals

Angular = small bone at the base of the lower jaw, that forms a certain and obvious angle

Annual = term which when referring to fishes indicates a species with a life span of less than a year which will spawn only once (i.e. killifishes)

Anoxia = Gk term for the absence of dissolved oxygen in a water solution

Ante – = latin vernacular adverb that indicates something previous, before

Anterior = the former, the antecedent

Aplacental = sharks that are viviparous but their young are not connected with their mothers with placenta as happens with other species of sharks.

Appendage = large and distinctive projection formed on the body of an animal

Aquaculture = organised farm for production of aquatic organisms

Aquatic chickens = common name for Tilapia sp.

Aquatic tongue = The use of currents in the mouth of many fishes to manipulate their food emulating a “hydraulic” tongue.

Artemia salina = brine shrimp

Articular = the broad bone of the lower jaw

Asexual = (for reproduction) breeding process while no gametes’ (see relevant entry) union is taking place

Asymmetric = Gk word that indicates lack of symmetry (opposite: symmetric)

Aufwuchs = An informal term meaning all life which lives on rocks lit by the sun in rivers or lakes – particularly associated with the mbuna flock of lake Malawi which feeds on it by grazing the rocks. It is supposed to consist of algae, copepods etc.

Auto – = Gk meaning “by itself”.

Autopepsia: from Gk (e)auto (self) and pepsis (digestion): self digestion,  "ulceration of the gastric mucous membrane by its own secretion, or the digestion of the skin surrounding a gastrostomy or colostomy opening". (autopepsia)