Aulostomus maculatus

9.9

A thin tropical fish from the Atlantic with a long nose that often swims head down

noun
/ˌɔːləˈstoʊməs ˌmækjʊˈleɪtəs/

Specialized

: Aulostomus maculatus

The Aulostomus maculatus is easily recognized by its elongated, tubular snout and distinctive swimming style.

Examples

Marine biologists often spot the Aulostomus maculatus hovering vertically among coral reefs.
Divers sometimes observe Aulostomus maculatus blending in with sea whips as it searches for prey.
The Aulostomus maculatus is often found near coral reefs.
Have you ever seen an Aulostomus maculatus in the wild?
Divers sometimes observe Aulostomus maculatus blending in with sea whips as it searches for prey.
Marine biologists often spot the Aulostomus maculatus hovering vertically among coral reefs.
The Aulostomus maculatus is easily recognized by its elongated, tubular snout and distinctive swimming style.

Synonyms

trumpetfish

vsAulostomus maculatus

9.6

A long thin tropical fish with a tube-shaped snout that often swims with its head pointed down

is the formal scientific name used in biological classification

Surface Forms

Aulostomus maculatus singular

Aulostomus maculatuses plural

Morphology

Aulostomus + maculatus

This is a Latin binomial (a genus + species name). A learner who knows 'Aulostomus' as a genus of trumpetfishes can infer that the phrase denotes a type of trumpetfish, but the species epithet 'maculatus' is not lexically transparent or defined here and the detailed behavioural/appearance information (long snout, vertical swimming) cannot be derived from the parts. Because the taxonomic relation is clear but the specific meaning is not predictable from the constituents, it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Aulostomus maculatus comes from older Greek and Latin words: Aulostomus meaning 'pipe mouth' and maculatus meaning 'spotted'. This picture of a long, tube-like snout and a spotted body helps you remember the trumpetfish that often swims straight up and down, head down.