Mouths & Caudal Fins

The mouth is an important clue to food source for bony fish.		The caudal, or tail, fin is responsible for propulsion in most bony fish.
Large For eating whole fish or chunks of fish		Fish with continuous caudal fins (dorsal, caudal, and anal fins attached) are able to swim in and around cracks and crevices.
Small For nibbling on plants and small animals		Fish with lunate caudal fins tend to be the fastest fishes and maintain a rapid speed for long durations.
Dorsal For eating near the surface		Many continuously swimming fish have forked caudal fins.
Anterior For eating in the water column		Fish with truncate caudal fins are usually strong, but slow, swimmers.
Ventral For eating on the bottom		Fish with rounded caudal fins are usually strong, but slow, swimmers.