‖ interoperculum Ichthyol.
(ˌɪntərəʊˈpɜːkjʊləm)
[inter- 2 b.]
One of the four bones normally forming the gill-cover, esp. in teleostean and ganoid fishes; usually situated below the præoperculum, and partly between this on one side and the operculum and suboperculum on the other.
| 1855 in Mayne Expos. Lex. 1871 Darwin Desc. Man II. xii. 10 The male has its mouth and interoperculum fringed with a beard of stiff hairs. 1888 Rolleston & Jackson Anim. Life 93 A series of membrane bones well developed in Teleostei and Ganoidei are attached to the posterior edge of the hyomandibular and quadrate bones. These are the prae-operculum, the operculum, the sub-operculum, and the inter-operculum. They close in laterally the branchial cavity. |