Gammaridae
|gam-ma-ri-dae|
/ˌɡæməˈreɪdiː/
family of amphipod crustaceans
Etymology
'Gammaridae' originates from New Latin, formed from the genus name 'Gammarus' plus the family suffix '-idae' (Modern Latin/Greek) meaning 'belonging to the family of'.
'Gammaridae' developed from the genus name 'Gammarus' (New Latin), which itself derives from Greek roots referring to a small shrimp-like crustacean; the scientific family-name formation produced 'Gammaridae' in taxonomic Latin.
Initially the root referred to a small shrimp-like animal (the genus Gammarus); over time the form 'Gammaridae' came to denote the whole family of related amphipod species.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a family (Gammaridae) of amphipod crustaceans, typically small, laterally compressed shrimp-like organisms found in freshwater, brackish, and marine environments; includes genera such as Gammarus.
Members of the family Gammaridae are abundant in many streams and lakes and play important roles in aquatic food webs.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/15 14:55