The bowfin has a rounded heterocercal tail that resembles a homocercal tail. The homocercal tail is slightly convex or rounded. The caudal fin is heterocercal, but approaches a functional homocercal condition. The pelvic fins are close together, and the homocercal caudal fin is forked. By contrast, most bony fish possess a homocercal caudal fin. The caudal fin or tail fin is notched and homocercal.