diphycercal
|di-phy-cer-cal|
🇺🇸
/ˌdɪfɪˈsɜrkəl/
🇬🇧
/ˌdɪfɪˈsɜːkəl/
tail with vertebral column to tip; symmetrical lobes
Etymology
'diphycercal' originates from New Latin 'diphycercalis', built from Greek elements: 'di-' meaning 'two' (or 'double') and Greek 'kerkos' meaning 'tail' (from which the suffix '-cercal' is formed).
'diphycercalis' (New Latin, used in scientific descriptions of fishes) passed into English scientific usage as 'diphycercal' without substantial change in form.
Initially used in specialized ichthyological descriptions to denote a particular tail structure (vertebral column extending to tip with symmetrical lobes); its technical biological meaning has been largely preserved in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having a diphycercal tail: a tail in which the vertebral column extends straight to the tip and the upper and lower lobes are essentially symmetrical.
The coelacanth is noted for its diphycercal tail, where the vertebral column reaches the tip between two similar lobes.
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/05 15:34