What characteristic does the Latin name 'annularis' reference in P. annularis?
Answer
The regularly arranged vertical markings
The scientific nomenclature often describes key physical attributes of a species. In the case of the white crappie, *Pomoxis annularis*, the specific epithet *annularis* is derived from Latin and directly translates to 'having rings.' This name is a precise reference to the specific pattern of 5 to 10 dark, regularly aligned vertical bars found along its sides, which resemble rings or bands.
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