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Glite Dictionary
Citharichthys cornutus

Citharichthys cornutus

9.9
A small flat fish found in the Atlantic from the Bahamas and Gulf of Mexico to Brazil
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Citharichthys cornutus
  • The Citharichthys cornutus is commonly known as the whiff.

Examples

  • Marine biologists recently discovered a population of Citharichthys cornutus near the coast of Brazil.

  • The distinct markings help distinguish Citharichthys cornutus from other small flatfish species.

  • Overfishing in the Gulf of Mexico has put Citharichthys cornutus at greater risk.

  • Have you seen a Citharichthys cornutus before?

  • Marine biologists recently discovered a population of Citharichthys cornutus near the coast of Brazil.

  • Overfishing in the Gulf of Mexico has put Citharichthys cornutus at greater risk.

  • The distinct markings help distinguish Citharichthys cornutus from other small flatfish species.

Synonyms

horned whiff
vsCitharichthys cornutus
  • Specialized
9.9

A flat fish with small horn-like bumps on its head that lives on sandy sea bottoms in warm Atlantic waters

is described by small size and southern range rather than head features
whiff
vsCitharichthys cornutus
  • Specialized
9.6

A flat sea fish with both eyes on one side, found in the Atlantic

is limited to more southern Atlantic waters rather than extending north to New England

Surface Forms

Citharichthys cornutus singular
Citharichthys cornutus plural

Morphology

Citharichthys + cornutus

This is a scientific Latin binomial (genus + species) where the constituents are a taxonomic proper name and an uninterpretable Latin epithet for a B1 learner; the label does not compositionally convey 'a small flatfish'. Binomial nomenclature is specialized and non-compositional for average learners, so the meaning cannot be derived from the parts.

Etymology

Citharichthys cornutus may come from old Greek and Latin words: Citharichthys from a word for a 'lyre' and cornutus meaning 'horned'. So the name gives the image of a small, flat 'lyre-like' fish with a horn-like mark, which helps remember it is a kind of 'small flatfish'.