Antennariidae
|an-ten-na-ri-i-dae|
/ænˌtɛnəˈraɪdiː/
frogfish family
Etymology
'Antennariidae' originates from New Latin, specifically the genus name 'Antennarius', where 'antenna' referred to a 'sail-yard' or 'feeler' (alluding to the lure-like illicium).
'Antennariidae' developed from the genus name 'Antennarius' (coined in modern taxonomic Latin) and acquired the standard zoological family suffix '-idae' to form the family name 'Antennariidae' in scientific usage.
Initially it referred to things 'of or relating to Antennarius' (the genus); over time it came to denote the entire family of fishes related to that genus, now known commonly as the frogfish family.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a family of anglerfishes (order Lophiiformes), commonly called frogfishes, characterized by short, globose bodies and a modified dorsal spine (illicium) used as a lure; found mainly in tropical and subtropical marine waters.
Many species in Antennariidae use a modified dorsal spine as a lure to attract prey.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/04 04:38