basipterygium

noun

ba·​sip·​ter·​yg·​i·​um

-jēəm

plural basipterygia

-jēə

: a basal bone or cartilage forming a support of one of the paired fins of a fish:

a

: a large cartilage supporting the radialia in ganoids and selachians

b

: a large bone supporting the rays of a pelvic fin in teleosts

c

: the posterior member of a group of three such supporting elements in certain fishes compare mesopterygium, metapterygium, propterygium

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from basi- + Greek pterygion fin, literally, small wing

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