Goniale

/ɡoʊniˈɑːli/ noun

Definition

In fish and some vertebrates, a bone located at the angle of the lower jaw, part of the mandibular structure.

Etymology

From gonia (angle) plus the suffix -ale, a Latin nominative ending used in anatomical nomenclature. This term is primarily used in ichthyology and comparative anatomy.

Kelly Says

Fish have an extra bone called the goniale that disappeared in mammals—studying these bones helps scientists trace the evolutionary journey from fish to land animals!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.