Pterophyllum
|pter-o-phil-um|
/ˌtɛrəˈfɪləm/
winged-leaf → angelfish genus
Etymology
'Pterophyllum' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'pterophyllon', where 'ptero-' meant 'wing' or 'feather' and 'phyllon' meant 'leaf'.
'Pterophyllum' was taken from Greek 'pterophyllon' and Latinized in New Latin to form the scientific genus name 'Pterophyllum' used in zoological nomenclature.
Initially, it meant 'winged leaf' (a descriptive compound of Greek roots), but over time it came to be used as the name for a genus of fish whose fins resemble wings — the angelfish.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a genus of tropical freshwater cichlid fishes commonly known as angelfish, native to rivers and floodplains of South America (for example, the Amazon Basin).
Pterophyllum are popular in the aquarium trade because of their laterally compressed, wing-like fins and striking patterns.
Last updated: 2025/08/29 03:09