Natural History of Vertebrates
List of Terms
Chapter 5 - Radiation of the Chondrichthyes


The following are terms that you should look up. You should be able to define each term and give a clear, specific example of each. Most of these terms are in your textbook, some will be presented in lecture, and others may come from your previous course work. A good investment at this point in your career would be the investment in one or more dictionaries which are specific to biology. One dictionary that I would recommend is "A Dictionary of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics" (second edition) by Lincoln, Boxshall and Clark. It is published by Cambridge University Press and the ISBN number is 0 521 43842 for the paperback version.

Taxonomic terms maybe the scientific names or common names associated with various groups of organisms. Generic names are capitalized and in italics. Scientific names for families or higher are capitalized. Common names are in start with lower case letters.

I will use these terms in lecture at various times throughout the semester and will expect you to know them. They may also appear on tests. It would be a very good idea to include a section in your notes where you write out the definitions to these terms.

List of Terms
Taxonomic Terms
pitch
yaw
roll
fin-fold theory
collagenous fin rays
burst swimming
benthic
palatoquadrate
hyoid arch
parallel evolution
convergent evolution
grade
chondrocranium
amphistylic
tooth whorl
neural arch
hydrofoil
claspers
hemal arch
pelagic
lek
fusiform
terminal mouth
heterodont dentition
ceratotrichia
hyomandibula
hyostylic
cranial kinesis
mechanoreception
neuromast organs
lateral line system
electroreception
ampullae of Lorenzini
chemoreception
tapetum lucidum
internal fertilization
copulation
intromittent organ
nidimental gland
oviparous
ovoviviparous
lecithotrophy
viviparous
matrotrophy
placentotrophic viviparity
durophagus

Acanthodii
Placodermi
Chondrichthyes
Teleostomi
Holocephali
Elasmobranchii
ratfish
sharks
skates
rays
Galea
Squalea
Cladoselache
Neoselachii
Hybodus
hypotremates
pleurotremates
chimeras

Last updated on 5 February 2008
Provide comments to Dwight Moore at mooredwi@emporia.edu
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