Anatomy question for nerms

[BlueLineAquaticsSC]

I’ve always wondered about this little line coming from the top of the gills down the fishes back, what’s it called and does it have a purpose. On all of my cichlids it starts at the top of the hill, arches up, and travels parallel to the spine. Barbs are similar except the arch  down. Anyone know? Hard to get good pictures of them.

[Andy's Fish Den]

It is called the lateral line. If I remember right form biology classes, it is a sensory organ and used to detect movements and vibrations, etc.

[Chris]

Agreed, it's the lateral line. Used to detect movement, vibrations, water flow, and all kinds of stuff. If I'm not mistaken, a lot of fish have adaptations that allow their lateral line to be used for crazy stuff - for example, lots of predatory fish have an adaptation that allows them to use their lateral line to detect electrical impulses that their prey produce, so that even in murky water conditions, they can still find/track prey.

[BlueLineAquaticsSC]

Thanks