lobefin

9.9

A mostly extinct fish with fleshy, lobed fins that look like small limbs

noun
/ˈloʊbˌfɪn/

Specialized

: lóbulo

Some lobefins are believed to be ancestors of the first land-dwelling animals.

Examples

The lobefin is of great interest to scientists studying the evolution of vertebrates.
Many lobefins are only known from fossils.
Most lobefins disappeared millions of years ago, leaving behind only a few fossilized remains.
The lobefin is an ancient type of fish.
Most lobefins disappeared millions of years ago, leaving behind only a few fossilized remains.
Some lobefins are believed to be ancestors of the first land-dwelling animals.
The lobefin is of great interest to scientists studying the evolution of vertebrates.

Synonyms

lobe-finned fish

vslobefin

Specialized

1 9.9

A fish with thick, fleshy fins that look like small limbs, including living and fossil kinds

refers only to the narrower extinct order rather than the whole group

crossopterygian

vslobefin

Specialized

1 9.9

An extinct fish with thick fins that look like limbs and are known from fossils

is a common name version used for the same taxonomic group

Surface Forms

lobefin singular

lobefins plural

Morphology

lobefin = lobe + fin (transparent) = lobe + fin

Meaning is directly composed from 'lobe' + 'fin' (a fin with lobes), so learners recognizing both parts can infer the term.

Etymology

Lobefin comes from the English parts lobe (a 'rounded part', as in 'earlobe') and fin ('fin' of a fish). So a lobefin is a fish with thick, rounded fins that look like 'lobes', which helps explain why these fish are linked to the early animals that moved onto land.