The main external features of the fish, the fins, are composed of either bony or soft spines called rays, which with the exception of the caudal fins, have no direct connection with the spine.
ðə mˈeɪn ɛkstˈɜːnəl fˈiːtʃɚz ʌvðə fˈɪʃ, ðə fˈɪnz, ɑːɹ kəmpˈoʊzd ʌv ˈiːðɚ bˈoʊni ɔːɹ sˈɔft spˈaɪnz kˈɔːld ɹˈeɪz, wˌɪtʃ wɪððɪ ɛksˈɛpʃən ʌvðə kˈɔːdəl fˈɪnz, hæv nˈoʊ dᵻɹˈɛkt kənˈɛkʃən wɪððə spˈaɪn.