Anteopercle

/ˌæntɪˈɑpərkəl/ noun

Definition

In fish anatomy, a bone located in front of the opercle (gill cover); part of the cheek region.

Etymology

From Latin ante (before) + opercle (from operculum, a cover); describes the forward gill-cover bone in fish skeletal structure.

Kelly Says

Ichthyologists (fish scientists) use anteopercle to identify fish species because different fish have distinctly shaped anteopercles—it's like a fingerprint for fish identification!

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