The Anatomy and Qualities of Fish

Appears in
On Food and Cooking

By Harold McGee

Published 2004

  • About

Fish and shellfish have many things in common, but anatomy is not one of them. Fish are vertebrates, animals with backbones; shellfish are boneless invertebrates. Their muscles and organs are organized differently, and as a result they can have very different textures. The anatomy and special qualities of shellfish are described separately.