![]() Most fishes gain their thrust, the power that propels them forward through the water, by moving their tail from side to side while alternately curving the rest of their body from side to side. Fish tails appear in a variety of significantly different forms depending upon the lifestyle of the species. The tail, also known as the caudal fin, is the primary source of propulsion for most fishes. Many members of the family of sea basses and groupers are equipped with a truncate-to-rounded tail fin. In other words, a little knowledge gleaned from a closer look at the tails of marine animals will make you a much wiser diver.Ī truncate, or broad and perhaps somewhat rounded tail is a good design for both acceleration and maneuverability. Now I am not suggesting that you start looking at tails before you check out faces and bodies, but experienced divers, ichthyologists, and other marine specialists are quick to point out that a good look at an animal’s tail can not only help you identify a species, but understanding the advantages and disadvantages of various tail shapes can provide you with valuable insight about the natural history of fishes and many other marine creatures that we routinely encounter. Whether the fish in question is big or small, a shark or a reef fish, especially attractive or average looking, the tail usually fails to get much consideration. But only on rare occasions does anyone comment about a fish’s tail. The first questions they are asked in response are “what did it look like, how big was it, what color was it, and what was it doing?” At that point you are very likely to hear something about the fish’s body shape, size and color, the look of its face, eyes and mouth, and a comment or two about whether the animal was striped or had spots or other distinct markings, and where the fish was seen. After almost every dive someone immediately begins to try to describe a fish they saw. ![]()
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