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Glite Dictionary
Polyodon spathula

Polyodon spathula

9.9
A large freshwater fish with a long paddle-shaped snout that lives in the Mississippi River
  • noun
  • /ˌpɒliˈoʊdɒn ˈspæθjʊlə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Polyodon spathula
  • The unique snout of the Polyodon spathula helps it detect plankton in murky waters.

Examples

  • The Polyodon spathula is sometimes regarded as a living fossil due to its ancient lineage.

  • Fishermen in the Mississippi River occasionally catch a Polyodon spathula for scientific study.

  • Look at that giant Polyodon spathula swimming!

  • The Polyodon spathula is a fascinating species.

  • Fishermen in the Mississippi River occasionally catch a Polyodon spathula for scientific study.

  • The unique snout of the Polyodon spathula helps it detect plankton in murky waters.

  • The Polyodon spathula is sometimes regarded as a living fossil due to its ancient lineage.

Synonyms

paddlefish
vsPolyodon spathula
  • Specialized
1 9.0

A large freshwater fish from North America with a long paddle-shaped snout

is the single American species rather than the wider family group
duckbill
vsPolyodon spathula
  • US
1 8.6

A large freshwater fish with a long flat snout like a paddle

is the scientific species name rather than the common name

Surface Forms

Polyodon spathula singular
Polyodon spathulas plural

Morphology

Polyodon + spathula

This is a Latin taxonomic binomial whose everyday meaning ('American paddlefish') requires specialized biological knowledge; the components are not ordinary English words a B1 learner would use to infer the referent. One component ('spathula') is not attested in the provided dictionary entry and even if its Latin root hinted at a 'paddle' shape, that morphological knowledge is unlikely at B1, so the overall meaning is not derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Polyodon spathula comes from Greek and Latin words that describe the fish. The part Polyodon means 'many teeth' and spathula means 'little paddle' or 'spatula', so the name paints the image of its long paddle-shaped snout used to find food and fits the fish today.