Chaetodipterus
|Chae-to-dip-ter-us|
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/ˌkiːtoʊdɪpˈtɛrəs/
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/ˌkiːtəʊdɪpˈtɛrəs/
bristled, two-finned (genus of spadefishes)
Etymology
'Chaetodipterus' originates from Modern Latin (scientific/New Latin), formed from Greek 'chaite' meaning 'long hair, bristle' and 'dipteros' meaning 'two-winged' or 'two-finned'.
'Chaetodipterus' was coined in modern taxonomic Latin by combining the Greek roots 'chaite' + 'dipteros' to describe a morphological feature; it did not pass through Old or Middle English forms.
Initially the components literally described 'bristled, two-finned' morphology; over time the composite became a taxonomic genus name for certain spadefishes.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a genus of marine ray-finned fishes in the family Ephippidae (spadefishes), including species such as Chaetodipterus faber (Atlantic spadefish).
Chaetodipterus are commonly observed around reefs and coastal structures in warm waters.
Last updated: 2025/09/16 05:40