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Types of Fins

Caudal (Tail) fin Steering and Forward Thrust
Caudal (Tail) fin Steering and Forward Thrust

Apart from the tail or caudal fin, fish fins have no direct connection with the spine and are supported only by muscles. Their principal function is to help the fish swim. Fins located in different places on the fish serve different purposes such as moving forward, turning, keeping an upright position or stopping.

Dorsal (Back) fin
Dorsal (Back) fin

A dorsal fin is a fin located on the back of most marine and freshwater vertebrates such as fishes, cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), and the (extinct) ichthyosaur. Most species have only one dorsal fin, but some have two or three.

Pectoral (up by the Gills) Fins
Pectoral (up by the Gills) Fins

Pectoral fins are used for balancing and braking. In some species, they are used for jumping and gliding over the surface of the water. The pectoral fins are located behind the gills of a fish. Depending on the animal, the pectoral fin has different purposes. In sharks, pectoral fins may assist in ...

source: reference.com
image: pt-lobos.com
Pelvic (Surrounding the Cloacal Opening) Fins
Pelvic (Surrounding the Cloacal Opening) Fins

located on the pelvic fin and only found on males and are involved in copulation (sexual intercourse) kidney this organ extracts urea from urine and returns the urea to the blood so that the water pressure of the shark's body fluids are maintained as high as that of sea water

source: quizlet.com

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