Page 384 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

382 GLOSSARY USEFUL WEBSITES

Scute A scale modified into a bony Spawning pit An area of substrate Taxonomy The study of the naming Variety Another word for a strain.
plate, found especially in some catfish. excavated by some species of fish, in and classification of living things.
which they spawn or guard their fry. Vent The anogenital opening, which
Sessile Attached to a surface. Territorial The readiness of an is located close to the anal fin in fish.
Species A group of animals or animal to defend a particular area.
Sexual dimorphism A difference plants with similar characteristics Ventral fins An alternative name
in the appearance of the sexes. In fish, that can breed together in the wild to Trace element Minerals, such as for the pelvic fins.
this may include differences in size, produce fertile offspring. iron, that an organism needs in small
color, patterning, or fin shape. amounts to ensure its well-being. Vertebrate An animal with a
Specific gravity (SG) The density backbone (vertebral column).
Shoal A group of fish of the same of a liquid containing dissolved Tube feet Projections on the
species that swims together. minerals compared to that of pure underside of starfish and some other Water conditioner A preparation
water, which has an SG of 1.00. marine invertebrates, which propel that makes tap water habitable for
Siphon A tube for removing water SG can be used to measure salinity. the animal over the sea floor. fish. It combines a dechlorinator with
from an aquarium; also, a tube through other ingredients, such as aloe vera.
which water enters and leaves the body Strain A selectively bred form that Tuber The swollen storage organ of
of mussels and other invertebrates. has distinctive characteristics. a plant, which normally grows at least Yolk sac The part of an egg that
partially underground. nourishes a young fish before and
Soft water Fresh water containing Substrate The material on the floor immediately after hatching.
less than 100 milligrams per liter of of an aquarium, pond, river, or lake. Tubercles White swellings seen on
dissolved calcium and magnesium male cyprinids prior to spawning. Zeolite A clay-based compound that
mineral salts. Subspecies A distinct population removes ammonia from water.
within a species. Undergravel filter A filtration
Spawning The process of system in which a perforated plate Zooxanthellae Single-celled algae
egg-laying and fertilization. Swim bladder A fish’s buoyancy sits under the gravel substrate. This that live inside animals such as corals
organ. It may also produce sounds. allows oxygenated water to flow in a symbiotic relationship. The algae
Spawning mop Strands of through the gravel, promoting the grow in the relative safety of the
synthetic yarn attached to a float, on Symbiosis A beneficial relationship growth there of aerobic bacteria, coral’s body and provide food for the
which fish can be persuaded to spawn. between two different species. which break down waste matter. coral when they photosynthesize.

Useful websites

Most aquatic organizations have Australia New Guinea Goldfish Society of America Marine Aquarium Societies of
websites that give up-to-date contact Fishes Association (ANGFA) www.goldfishsociety.org North America (MASNA)
telephone numbers and mailing www.angfa.org.au An essential point of reference for www.masna.org
addresses. The following is a selection A site devoted to the freshwater fans of these coldwater fish. An extensive online resource dealing
of currently operating sites: fish of Australia and New Guinea, with all aspects of marine fishkeeping.
especially rainbowfish. ANGFA International Fancy Guppy
American Cichlid Association links both hobbyists and scientists. Association North American Native
www.cichlid.org www.ifga.org Fishes Association
Features news, advice, contacts, and a Betta Source.com A well-established organization www.nanfa.org
gallery and chat room for fans of these www.bettasource.com dedicated to these attractive livebearers, Covers native species occurring
popular aquarium fish. Information and advice on keeping, with regional North American clubs in Canada, the US, and Mexico.
breeding, and showing bettas. and associations listed here.
American Killifish Association Pet Industry Joint Advisory
www.aka.org International Federation of Council (PIJAC)
Helps to promote the keeping and Canadian Association of Online Clubs and Aquatic www.pijac.org
breeding of these attractive and Aquarium Clubs (CAOAC) Societies (IFOCAS) US-based trade organisation
interesting egg-layers. www.caoac.ca/clubs.html www.ifocas.org involved with regulatory issues.
Details about the wide range of Umbrella body linking organizations PIJAC is also represented in Canada.
American Livebearer Association both local and specialist aquatic in more than 50 countries.
www.livebearers.org clubs to be found in Canada. Planet Catfish
Livebearer photos and links. Koivet www.planetcatfish.com
FishBase www.koivet.com In-depth website, with information
Aquatic Gardeners Association www.fishbase.org/home.htm Site specializing in the health of koi on L-numbers and breeding.
(AGA) An invaluable, comprehensive and goldfish; covers koi herpes.
www.aquatic-gardeners.org/links.html online taxonomic resource,
A list of resources relating to aquatic which also provides a great Loaches Online
plants, both for the home aquarium and deal of information about www.loaches.com
ponds, with links also to local aquarium individual species, many of which Includes a species database, details of
clubs in the US and further afield. are illustrated. disease treatment, and much more.

US_380-400_Endmatter.indd 382 29/08/18 6:30 PM