What makes a fish a teleost?

What makes a fish a teleost?

Teleosts are characterized by a fully movable maxilla and premaxilla (which form the biting surface of the upper jaw); the movable upper jaw makes it possible for teleosts to protrude their jaws when opening the mouth. Teleosts are also distinguished by having fully homocercal (symmetrical) tails.

What does teleost mean in Latin?

osseous. —n. an osseous fish—also Teleos′tean. [Gr. teleios, complete, osteon, bone.]

What is a non teleost fish?

Holostei is a group of ray-finned bony fish including gars (with 7 extant species) and bowfins (with 1 extant species). The spiracles of holosteans are reduced to vestigial remnants and the bones are lightly ossified. The thick ganoid scales of the gars are more primitive than those of the bowfin.

Which is the best definition of a teleost?

Any of various fishes of the group Teleostei, having a protrusible upper jaw and including most of the ray-finned fishes. Any of many orders of bony fishes having a consolidated internal skeleton, swim bladder, thin cycloid scales, etc. Of or belonging to the teleosts.

Where does the last name teleost come from?

[From New Latin Teleosteī, group name (Greek teleos, complete; see teleology + osteon, bone; see ost- in Indo-European roots) and from New Latin Teleostomī, group name (Greek teleos, complete + Greek stoma, mouth ).] American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.

What kind of fish is a teleost fish?

belonging or pertaining to the Teleostei, a group of bony fishes including most living species. . a teleost fish. “EVERYDAY” VS. “EVERY DAY” QUIZ: IS IT ONE WORD OR TWO? An everyday activity is one you do every day. (Thanks, English.)

How many species of teleosts are there in the world?

There are over 26,000 species of teleosts, in about 40 orders and 448 families, making up 96% of all extant species of fish. Approximately 12,000 of the total 26,000 species are found in freshwater habitats.