Muraenidae

9.9

A family of long hunting fish called moray eels that live in warm seas

noun
/mʊˈreɪnɪdi/

Specialized

: Muraenidae

The Muraenidae family includes over 200 species of moray eels worldwide.

Examples

Most members of the Muraenidae have sharp teeth and are nocturnal predators.
Marine biologists study Muraenidae to better understand their unique hunting mechanisms.
The Muraenidae family includes over 200 species of moray eels worldwide.
The Muraenidae family includes many fascinating species.
I saw a Muraenidae swimming in the coral reef.
Marine biologists study Muraenidae to better understand their unique hunting mechanisms.
Most members of the Muraenidae have sharp teeth and are nocturnal predators.

Synonyms

moray

vsMuraenidae

6 8.3

A large eel with bright patterned skin that lives in warm coastal waters

refers to the family, not just one large coastal species

moray eel

vsMuraenidae

4 7.0

A long sea fish with sharp teeth that hides in reef rocks

refers to the whole family rather than a single species

family Muraenidae

vsMuraenidae

Specialized

9.2

A group of long sea fish like moray eels that eat other animals in warm waters

is the same group but without the explicit family label

Compounds

family Muraenidae

Specialized

9.2

A group of long sea fish like moray eels that eat other animals in warm waters

Surface Forms

Muraenidae singular

Muraenidaes plural

Morphology

Muraenidae = Muraena (opaque) = Muraena + idae

The suffix '-idae' is a specialized taxonomic marker (family) unfamiliar to average learners, so they cannot reliably infer 'family of moray eels' from the parts.

Etymology

Muraenidae comes from the old name Muraena, which meant 'sea-eel' or 'moray'. So Muraenidae simply names the family of moray eels, and a helpful way to remember it is to think of the familiar word moray, the long, toothy eel in that group.