homocercal

American  

[hoh-muh-sur-kuhl, hom-uh-] / ˌhoʊ məˈsɜr kəl, ˌhɒm ə- /

adjective

Ichthyology.

1. having an equally divided tail, characteristic of adult modern bony fishes.

---

homocercal British  

/ ˌhɒm-, ˌhəʊməʊˈsɜːkəl /

adjective

1. ichthyol of or possessing a symmetrical tail that extends beyond the end of the vertebral column, as in most bony fishes Compare heterocercal

---

Other Word Forms

• homocercality noun
• homocercy noun

Etymology

Origin of homocercal

1830–40; homo- + cerc- (< Greek kérkos tail) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

It characterises the earlier periods of the earth's history, whereas in the secondary strata, or those newer than the Permian, the homocercal tail predominates.

From The Student's Elements of Geology by Lyell, Charles, Sir

This type of caudal fin must be regarded as secondary, the Gadidae being, no doubt, derived from fishes in which the homocercal fin of the typical Teleostean had been lost.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 6 "Cockaigne" to "Columbus, Christopher" by Various