Apogonidae

9.9

A group of bright sea fish like cardinalfish whose males hold eggs in their mouths

noun
/ˌæpəˈɡoʊnɪˌdeɪ/

Specialized

: Apogonidae

The Apogonidae are well known for their unusual breeding behavior, with males incubating the eggs in their mouths.

Examples

Many species in the Apogonidae family feature striking red and yellow coloration.
Aquarists often admire Apogonidae for their vivid colors and peaceful nature.
The Apogonidae family includes many vibrant species.
Did you know that Apogonidae are known for mouthbrooding?
Aquarists often admire Apogonidae for their vivid colors and peaceful nature.
Many species in the Apogonidae family feature striking red and yellow coloration.
The Apogonidae are well known for their unusual breeding behavior, with males incubating the eggs in their mouths.

Surface Forms

Apogonidae singular

Apogonidae plural

Morphology

Apogonidae = Apogon (opaque) = Apogon + idae

The formation uses the specialized taxonomic suffix '-idae' and a Latin genus name; this is not a productive, guessable formation for average learners.

Etymology

The word Apogonidae comes from the Greek parts a- ('without') and pogon ('beard'), so it literally means 'without a beard'. This name was given to a family of small, colorful sea fish because they lack the whisker-like parts some fish have, and today Apogonidae is the scientific name for these cardinalfishes.