GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS CXXX1 



Swim-bladder. (See air-bladder.) 



Teleost. A name applied to fishes which have the skeleton fully ossified, embracing 



most recent forms. (See ganoid.) 

 Terete. Cylindrical and tapering. 



Tessellated. Marked with checks or squares, as in mosaic work. 

 Thoracic. Pertaining to the chest or thorax. 

 Thoracic ventral fins. Ventral fins which are attached far forward, nearly beneath 



the pectorals, the pelvic bones being connected with the shoulder girdle. (See 



key to families, bb, note, p. 2.) 

 Truncate. Cut squarely off. 



Vent. The external opening of the alimentary canal; anus. 

 Ventral. Pertaining to the abdomen. 

 Ventral fins. The posterior or lower paired fins, corresponding to the posterior 



limbs in higher vertebrates. (Fig. 1, v.) 

 Vertebra. A single bone of the spinal column. 

 Vertical fins. The fins (dorsal, anal, and caudal) on the median line of the body. 



in contradistinction from the paired fins (pectorals and ventrals). 

 Villiform. Of the form of villi. Said of teeth which are slender and crowded closely 



together in velvety bands. 



Vomer. The anterior bone of the roof of the mouth. (Fig. 56, vo.) 

 Weberian ossicles. A chain of small bones developed in connection with the modi- 

 fied anterior vertebrae and connecting the air-bladder with the ear in suckers, 

 carps, and catfishes. 



