From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdorsaldor‧sal /ˈdɔːsəl $ ˈdɔːr-/ adjective [only before noun] HBAHBFon or relating to the back of an animal or fish a shark’s dorsal fin
Examples from the Corpus
dorsal• The dorsal arm plates are fan shaped to rounded triangular and contiguous proximally.• The trigger, which gives the fish its name, is the leading ray of its dorsal fin which has become bony.• There is nothing clown-like at all about a pale pink fish with a light stripe along the base of the dorsal fin.• The caudal fin is yellow-brown, and the dorsal spine and long snout are orange.• The ventral interradial areas are covered by scales like those of the dorsal surface but the rod-like spinelets are usually smaller.dorsal fin• There is nothing clown-like at all about a pale pink fish with a light stripe along the base of the dorsal fin.• When stocking a pool with fish, take care to select healthy individuals with firm, meaty bodies and erect dorsal fins.• Soon, however, many are projecting their dorsal fins high out of the water and are confidently pecking at their food.• The dorsal fin is like a yacht sail; tall and similarly shaped.• The shape of the elongated spiky dorsal fin is reflected in the sweep of the flowing ventral fins.• The trigger, which gives the fish its name, is the leading ray of its dorsal fin which has become bony.• The blennies have a single dorsal fin, which may be almost, but not completely, divided by a deep notch.• Butterflyfish have a spiny dorsal fin, which they are quite prepared to use in attack.Origin dorsal (1400-1500) Late Latin dorsalis, from Latin dorsum “back” 