ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Ichthyology terms

Ichthyology is the study of fish. In order to understand ichthyology, we need to learn some special words that help ichthyologists talk about fish.

Fish are divided into different groups, like species or families, based on the way they look or behave. Scientists use special words to describe these groups.

One important term is "species". A species is a group of fish that can mate and have babies that can also mate and have babies of their own. So, if two fish can have babies that can keep on having babies, they are probably part of the same species.

Another term is "genus". A genus is a group of fish that are similar to each other in many ways. They look and behave in similar ways, too. For example, there might be many different species of fish in the genus "Gadus", but they all have certain things in common.

Scientists also use terms like "family" and "order" to talk about how fish are related to each other. A family is a group of fish that share certain characteristics, like the way their jaws are shaped. An order is a group of families that are related to each other in some way.

Finally, ichthyologists also use special words to describe different parts of a fish's body. For example, the fins and scales on a fish are important features that help scientists identify different species.

In short, ichthyology involves using special words to describe and categorize fish based on their physical features and behaviors so that scientists can learn more about them.