diphycercal

[ dif-uh-sur-kuh l ]
/ ˌdɪf əˈsɜr kəl /

adjective Ichthyology.

having a tail or caudal fin with the spinal column extending horizontally to the end of the tail, characteristic of lungfish, several other primitive fishes, and the juvenile stage of modern bony fishes.
Compare homocercal, heterocercal.

Origin of diphycercal

diphy- double (see diphyodont) + Greek kérk(os) a tail + -al1

Words nearby diphycercal

diphtheritic membrane, diphtheroid, diphthong, diphthongia, diphthongize, diphycercal, diphyletic, diphyllobothriasis, diphyllobothrium, diphyllous, diphyodont

Example sentences from the Web for diphycercal

British Dictionary definitions for diphycercal

diphycercal
/ (ˌdɪfɪˈsɜːkəl) /

adjective

ichthyol of or possessing a symmetrical or pointed tail with the vertebral column extending to the tip, as in primitive fishes

Word Origin for diphycercal

C19: from Greek diphuēs twofold (from di 1 + phuē growth) + kerkos tail