Gill Slit (Noun)
Meaning
One of a series of slit openings in the pharynxes of fishes and aquatic amphibians through which water passes.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The fossil record shows that the earliest vertebrates had gill slits, indicating that they were aquatic animals.
- The development of gill slits in embryonic fish is a critical stage in their transition to a fully aquatic lifestyle.
- In some species of amphibians, the gill slits are retained into adulthood, allowing them to extract oxygen from both water and air.
- The gill slits of a shark are lined with gill rakers, which help to filter small prey from the water.
- The gill slits of a larval fish are much larger than those of an adult, reflecting their greater need for oxygen.