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Glite Dictionary
pelvic fin

pelvic fin

6.3
One of a pair of small fins on the lower body of a fish that help it steer
  • noun
  • /ˈpɛlvɪk fɪn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : aleta pelvica
  • In many species, the pelvic fins play a crucial role in maintaining balance while swimming.
  • modified pelvic fins

Examples

  • Remember the the seahorse lacks the pelvic fins, so lacks this gene.

  • Most species have an appendage that acts as a suction cup, formed by the fusion of the two pelvic fins.

    Academic text (2004)

  • Adult 'o'opu alamo'o, shown here at about one and three-quarters times actual size, has a sucker on its chest formed by the fusion of its pelvic fins.

    Academic text (2004)

  • The fish uses its pelvic fin to steer through the water with precision.

  • The structure of the pelvic fins provides insight into the evolution of limbs in land vertebrates.

Synonyms

fin
vspelvic fin
45 1.0

A flat part on a fish's body that helps it swim and stay balanced

denote a specific paired appendage used for steering and corresponding to hind limbs
ventral fin
vspelvic fin
  • Specialized
6.1

A fin under a fish that helps it balance and turn

have the same position and role but use a different anatomical name

Surface Forms

pelvic fin singular
pelvic fins plural

Morphology

pelvic + fin

The noun phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'pelvic' (relating to the pelvis) modifies 'fin' (an aquatic appendage), so the phrase denotes a fin located at the pelvic girdle. This anatomical, compositional relation is cross-linguistically common and predictable, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Pelvic fin: The compound noun pelvic fin names the small fin near a fish's pelvic or 'hip' area. Think of these fins like the fish's 'back legs' that help it steer and stay steady, so the name shows what the fin does.