opercular
nounThe upper posterior bone of the series of bones forming the gill-cover in fishes.
Of or pertaining to an operculum or opercle.
Having an operculum; fitted with or closed by an operculum; operculate.
one bounding the operculum below and more or less behind: the suboperculum
one between the suboperculum and the operculum on the one hand and the preoperculum in front: the interoperculum, which is connected by a ligament with the lower jaw; and
an entirely separate element in front of the operculum and connected with the suspensorium of the lower jaw: the preoperculum. The first, second, and fourth of these are united into a more or less movable lid which covers the gills. All four are developed in the typical teleosts, but one or more are wanting in some fishes. See cut under
Of, pertaining to, or like, an operculum.
nounThe principal opercular bone or operculum of fishes.
adjectiveOf or pertaining to the
The principal opercular
