Dictionary of Ichthyology
Brian W. Coad and Don E. McAllister†
Symbols
There does not appear to be many symbols peculiar to ichthyology; the following are some general ones that might be encountered, eclectically grouped.
dam = a barrier controlling the flow of water and backing up water. Forms a lacustrine habitat (the reservoir) for fish where one did not exist before. Initially fish production is very high when stocked but declines as nutrients from flooded terrestrial ecosystems are used up. Release of water from reservoirs may radically affect fish downstream by changes in temperature regimes, flushing of habitats, and changes in silt loads. Storage dams store water and diversion dams divert water.
fish cleaning = the act of cleaning a fish for food. Presumably the symbol means that this can be carried out at the designated spot and facilities for waste disposal are available.
fish hatchery = a place or establishment for spawning, incubating and hatching fish eggs and for the rearing of young for release into the wild.
fish ladder = a series of steps with flowing water and pools enabling a fish to circumvent an obstruction such as a dam by leaping from step to step. Also called fishway, fish pass.
fish restaurant = an establishment serving fish as a major food on the menu.
fish spear = a trident with barbs or flukes is the symbol for the staff of Greek Poseidon or Roman Neptune, gods of the sea.
fish symbol = ichthus (a representation of a fish; an amulet or talisman shaped like a fish; an iconographic symbol for Christ from the initials in the Greek phrase Iesous Christos Theou Huios Soter (Jesus Christ Son of God Saviour). Also spelt ichthys).
fishing = capturing of fish (and other aquatic animals) by any and all means for any and all purposes.
ice fishing = international symbol.
no fish cleaning = prohibition of the act of cleaning a fish for food.
no fishing = appears in various forms, usually a fish inside a red circle with a diagonal bar denying permission, as with road signs.
no ice fishing = prohibition of ice fishing, i.e. fishing through holes cut in the ice of lakes or rivers, using specially designed gear and often with a shack positioned over the hole to mitigate the weather conditions.
Pisces = the zodiacal sign is two fish swimming in opposite directions. The sun enters this section of the zodiac around February 19, and leaves it on the spring equinox, around March 20.
<>< = fish, as an e-mail symbol.
& = and (the symbol is called an ampersand).
@ = at.
Є = Cambrian, the earliest period of the Palaeozoic Era, ca. 570-504 million years ago.
℅ = care of.
© = 1) copyright.
© = 2) Cambrian Period.
† = deceased.
™ = trade mark.
♀ = female.
♂ = male.
─O = mating, pairing with being the male and O being the female.
% = percent (10-2).
‰ = permille (10-3).
= = equal to, equals.
≠ = not equal to, unequal.
∞ = infinity.
≡ = identical with.
≈ = approximately equal to.
~ = proportional to (tilde).
< = less than.
> = greater than.
<< = much less than.
>> = much greater than.
≤ = less than or equal to.
≥ = greater than or equal to.
+ = plus
- = minus.
x = times, multiplied by.
* = times, multiplied by (asterisk on calculators).
· = times, multiplied by.
÷ = divided by.
/ = divided by ((forward stroke on calculators).
: = divided by (European usage).
± = plus or minus.
# = octothorpe or pound key.
˚ = degree (of temperature, latitude and longitude).
' = minutes of latitude and longitude.
" = seconds of latitude and longitude.
© Brian W. Coad (www.briancoad.com)