Adipose fin

An adipose fin is a small, fleshy fin behind the main dorsal fin in several groups of fishes. It lacks fin rays and is not supported by bony spines.

Dorsal fin: A fin on the back of a fish that helps stabilize the body and control movement. The adipose fin sits behind this larger, ray-supported fin.
Fish locomotion: The ways fishes generate thrust and control movement through water. The fin’s possible effects are studied through changes in swimming.
Teleost: A diverse infraclass of ray-finned fishes that includes most living fish species. Adipose fins occur in several teleost lineages rather than across all fishes.
Fish identification: The process of distinguishing fish species using their physical traits and other evidence. An adipose fin can be a useful visible trait when identifying some fishes.
Fin: A fish appendage used for movement, stability, steering, or display. The adipose fin is a distinctive, reduced type of fish fin.
Vortex shedding: The repeated formation and release of swirling fluid structures behind a moving body. Water flow around the adipose fin may affect vortices shed by the tail.
Characiformes: An order of ray-finned fishes that includes tetras, piranhas, and related species. Several characiform fishes have an adipose fin.
Fish taxonomy: The naming and classification of fish species and their evolutionary relationships. Fin presence and structure can help distinguish groups in taxonomic descriptions.
Fin ray: A slender supporting structure in a fish fin, formed from bone or cartilage. Unlike most paired and median fins, the adipose fin lacks fin rays.
Lateral line: A sensory system in fishes that detects water movement and pressure changes. Proposed sensory roles for the fin include modifying flow cues detected by this system.

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