Fingerling:
* Refers specifically to young fish that are small enough to be handled with the fingers. This typically means they are a few inches long and have recently absorbed their yolk sac.
* Often used in the context of fish farming and aquaculture. Fingerlings are raised in controlled environments for commercial purposes.
* Emphasis is on the size and handling ability.
Juvenile fish:
* A broader term that encompasses young fish of any size that are not yet sexually mature.
* Includes fish that are too large to be handled with fingers.
* Used in a more general sense, describing fish in their early stages of development.
* Emphasis is on the developmental stage rather than size.
In summary:
* All fingerlings are juvenile fish, but not all juvenile fish are fingerlings.
* Fingerling is a more specific term for young, small fish that are handled with fingers.
* Juvenile fish encompass a wider range of young fish, regardless of size, as long as they haven't reached sexual maturity.
Here's an analogy:
* Think of "juvenile fish" as the umbrella term for all young fish, like "child" for a young human.
* Think of "fingerling" as a specific type of young fish, like "toddler" for a young human.
Both terms refer to young fish, but "fingerling" provides a more specific size and handling characteristic.