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Glite Dictionary
family Corydalidae

family Corydalidae

9.9
Large insects that live in fresh water, like dobsonflies and fishflies
  • noun
  • /ˈfæmɪli ˌkɔːrɪˈdælɪdeɪ/
  • Specialized
: familia Corydalidae
  • The family Corydalidae includes some of the largest aquatic insects in North America.

Examples

  • Species in the family Corydalidae are important predators in stream ecosystems.

  • Entomologists often study larvae from the family Corydalidae to monitor freshwater quality.

  • The family Corydalidae includes various species of dobsonflies.

  • Many members of the family Corydalidae are found near freshwater.

  • Entomologists often study larvae from the family Corydalidae to monitor freshwater quality.

  • Species in the family Corydalidae are important predators in stream ecosystems.

  • The family Corydalidae includes some of the largest aquatic insects in North America.

Synonyms

Corydalidae
vsfamily Corydalidae
  • Specialized
9.9

A family of large water insects like dobsonflies that live near streams and rivers

is broader including dobsonflies and fishflies and the order Megaloptera

Surface Forms

family Corydalidae singular
families Corydalidae plural

Morphology

family + Corydalidae

The phrase is compositionally transparent: 'family' denotes a taxonomic grouping and 'Corydalidae' is the proper name of that group, so together they clearly mean the taxonomic family of those insects. This follows standard scientific naming patterns found across languages, making the meaning predictable for a learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Family Corydalidae gets its name from the genus Corydalus, and that strange word may come from an old Greek word for a crested bird, which gives a simple image of the insects' large, crest-like jaws. In science, a 'family' is a 'group of related species', so the name marks the group of large aquatic insects we call 'dobsonflies' and 'fishflies'.