A dorsal fin is a fin located on the back of most marine and freshwater vertebrates within various taxa of the animal kingdom. Many species of animals possessing dorsal fins are not particularly closely related to each other, though through convergent evolution they have independently evolved external superficial fish-like body plans adapted to their marine environments, including most numerously fish, but also mammals such as cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), and even extinct ancient marine reptiles such as various known species of ichthyosaurs. Most species have only one dorsal fin, but some have two or three.
Wildlife biologists often use the distinctive nicks and wear patterns which develop on the dorsal fins of large cetaceans to identify individuals in the field.
The bony or cartilaginous bones that support the base of the dorsal fin in fish are called pterygiophores.
A dorsalfin is a fin located on the back of most marine and freshwater vertebrates within various taxa of the animal kingdom. Many species of animals...
possess two dorsalfins with separate bases, as opposed to the single dorsalfin of most ray-finned fish (except some teleosts). The caudal fin is either...
females, have a dorsalfin that is partially or completely collapsed to one side. Several hypotheses exist as to why this happens. A dorsalfin is held erect...
organism Dorsal, positioned on top of an aircraft's fuselage Dorsal consonant, a consonant articulated with the back of the tongue Dorsalfin, the fin located...
below. Finlets: Small fins generally between the dorsal and the caudal fins, but may also be between the anal fin and the caudal fin. In bichirs, there are...
and tail fins. As they swim, they use other fins, such as dorsal and anal fins, to achieve stability and refine their maneuvering. The fins on the tails...
million years ago. Members of this family are noted for their peculiar dorsalfin. The taxonomic history of the Family Stethacanthidae has been rather complicated...
of the ryukin and possesses an egg-shaped body, a high dorsalfin, double caudal and anal fins, and no shoulder hump. Veiltail goldfish - It is similar...
with small scales. Their two dorsalfins are widely separated, with the anterior fin having five spines, and the posterior fin having one spine and nine...
X-15 show a conventional fixed fin and trailing rudder, and a ventral fin. This was changed to dorsal and ventral fins each with the outer half acting...
generate enough thrust with their tail fin to jump obstacles during river migrations Cod have three dorsal and two anal fins, which give them great maneuverability...
globicipitis is generally found more often on the dorsalfin, pectoral fins, and flukes. Other barnacles found on fin whales include the acorn barnacle Coronula...
large number of digits and phalanges. At least some species possessed a dorsalfin. Their heads were pointed, and the jaws often were equipped with conical...
often be identified from its dorsalfin and saddle patch. Variations such as nicks, scratches, and tears on the dorsalfin and the pattern of white or...
streamline the body and to form specialized locomotor structures such as the dorsalfin, propulsive fluke blades and caudal keels. There are many nerve endings...
whale observed by Enrico Hillyer Giglioli. It is described to have two dorsalfins, a feature which no known whales have. On September 4, 1867, on board...
identified by the prominent black tips on its fins (especially on the first dorsalfin and its caudal fin). Among the most abundant sharks inhabiting the...
adipose fin represents the fourth unpaired fin on the fish (the four unpaired fins are the caudal fin, dorsalfin, anal fin, and adipose fin), lending...
consistency. The dorsalfin originates from above the (relatively large) eyes and runs the entire length of the fish. Of the approximately 400 dorsalfin rays, the...
of pectoral fins, a pair of pelvic fins, two dorsalfins, an anal fin, and a caudal fin. Pectoral fins are stiff, which enables downward movement, lift...
world's longest ray-finned fish. Its shape is ribbon-like, narrow laterally, with a dorsalfin along its entire length, stubby pectoral fins, and long, oar-shaped...
characteristically have rounded dorsalfin tips that terminate in a sharp corner. The grey or white area around the dorsalfin, known as the "saddle patch"...
olive-yellow body which has a large dark spot, and long spines on the dorsalfin. Its large eyes at the front of the head provide it with binocular vision...
aquarium. The Bubble Eye normally has an evenly curved back that lacks a dorsalfin. The pair of large pouches of skin attached under its eyes jiggle as it...
laterally. Sunfish can be as tall as they are long when their dorsal and ventral fins are extended. Adult sunfish are vulnerable to few natural predators...
the tail fin. More specialized fish include movement by pectoral fins with a mainly stiff body, opposed sculling with dorsal and anal fins, as in the...
an almost straight front margin, and by its tall, sickle-shaped first dorsalfin. A solitary, strong-swimming apex predator, the great hammerhead feeds...
caudal. The marlin has two dorsalfins and two anal fins. The fins are supported by bony spines known as rays. Its first dorsalfin has 39 to 43 rays from...
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