In bony fishes, an operculum /ō-ˈpər-kyə-ləm/ is a protective flap that "covers the chamber housing the gills just behind the head. By moving the operculum, a bony fish can keep a steady supply of oxygenated water flowing over the gills even if the fish is not moving." (Biology, The Core)
In Latin, operculum means "cover" or "lid." The Korean word for operculum is 아가미 뚜껑, which literally translates as "gill cover," or 아감딱지.
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