What visual trait gives the common name "zebrafish" to *D. rerio*?
Answer
Horizontal blue or black stripes along the flank.
The common designation of "zebrafish" is directly derived from the distinctive physical appearance of the adult fish, specifically the presence of prominent horizontal stripes, colored blue or black, that run laterally along its body flanks. This visible characteristic contrasts with the formal scientific name, *Danio rerio*, which is derived from the Bengali name for the fish. While characteristics like transparency in embryos are key research features, and the pharyngeal teeth and swim bladder are important taxonomic identifiers, they are not the source of the common name.
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