Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How do male and female bowfin tail spots differ?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
holostean
Living and fossil forms of Holostei.
Male and female bowfin are distinguished by the appearance of a spot on the tail. Males are characterized by a black tail spot that is circled with orange, whereas females lack this specific orange-circled marking.1