Belonidae
- noun
- /bɛˈloʊnɪˌdeɪ/
- Specialized
- Species within the Belonidae family are often known as needlefish due to their shape.
Examples
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The Belonidae family includes several species of needlefish.
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Species within the Belonidae family are often known as needlefish due to their long, slender bodies.
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Scientists studied the jaw structure of Belonidae to better understand their hunting techniques.
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The Belonidae are commonly found near the surface of tropical and subtropical seas.
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Did you know that Belonidae are often found in tropical waters?
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Scientists studied the jaw structure of Belonidae to better understand their hunting techniques.
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The Belonidae are commonly found near the surface of warm tropical and subtropical seas.
Surface Forms
Morphology
Belonidae = Belone (opaque) = belon + idae
The name is formed with the specialized scientific family suffix '-idae' from the genus Belone, a formation that is not obvious to general English learners.
Etymology
The word Belonidae comes from the Greek word belone, meaning 'needle', plus the scientific ending -idae, which shows an animal 'family'. These fish are long and thin like needles, so the name helps you remember they are the needlefish family.