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Glite Dictionary
Lepomis punctatus

Lepomis punctatus

9.9
A small freshwater fish with red spots that people catch for food and sport
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Lepomis punctatus
  • The Lepomis punctatus is commonly found in slow-moving streams of the southeast.

Examples

  • Anglers appreciate the Lepomis punctatus for its spirited fight and good taste.

  • Researchers studied the habitat preferences of Lepomis punctatus in Georgia rivers.

  • The Lepomis punctatus is commonly found in freshwater streams.

  • Have you ever caught a Lepomis punctatus while fishing?

  • Anglers appreciate the Lepomis punctatus for its spirited fight and good taste.

  • Researchers studied the habitat preferences of Lepomis punctatus in Georgia rivers.

  • The Lepomis punctatus is commonly found in slow-moving streams of the southeast.

Synonyms

stumpknocker
vsLepomis punctatus
  • US
9.9

A small freshwater fish like a sunfish that people catch to eat

is the formal species name rather than the informal regional name
spotted sunfish
vsLepomis punctatus
  • US
8.0

A small freshwater fish with dark spots that people catch for food or fun

is the scientific species name rather than a descriptive common name

Surface Forms

Lepomis punctatus singular
Lepomis punctatuses plural

Morphology

Lepomis + punctatus

This is a Latin binomial (taxonomic) name rather than a regular English phrase; one constituent ('punctatus') is not an English word in the data and denotes a Latin adjective meaning 'spotted', which B1 learners typically would not know. Because the phrase is specialized scientific nomenclature and does not follow standard, transparent English composition patterns, its meaning as a particular species is not derivable by an average B1 learner from the given constituents.

Etymology

Lepomis punctatus is a scientific name made from old Greek and Latin words that describe the fish. The second part, punctatus, means 'spotted' in Latin, and Lepomis may come from a Greek word for 'scales' or 'scaled mouth', so the name paints a simple picture of a small, scaly sunfish with many spots and explains why we use this name today.