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What role does the caudal fin play in tetraodontiform swimming?
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tetraodontiform
Scrawled filefish (Aluterus scriptus)
In the order Tetraodontiformes, the caudal fin serves a specialized purpose in locomotion. While most members of this group primarily swim through the rapid undulation or complex sculling of their soft dorsal and anal fins, the powerful caudal fin is reserved specifically for achieving rapid bursts of speed. This functional distinction excludes the Molidae family, which does not utilize the caudal fin in this manner.1