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Glite Dictionary
family Cottidae

family Cottidae

9.6
A group of sea fish with large heads and spines called sculpins in cold northern waters
  • noun
  • Specialized
: familia Cottidae
  • The family Cottidae includes many species of sculpins found in the cold waters of the Northern Hemisphere.

Examples

  • Unlike other groups, the family Cottidae exhibits a remarkable diversity in body shape and habitat preference.

  • Researchers studied the physical adaptations unique to fish in the family Cottidae.

  • The family Cottidae includes many fascinating species.

  • Did you know the family Cottidae is found primarily in northern waters?

  • The family Cottidae is renowned for its unique adaptations to life in cold marine environments.

  • In marine biology, the family Cottidae is important due to its diverse species of sculpins found predominantly in northern habitats.

  • Fishermen often encounter members of the family Cottidae when fishing in chilly waters off the northern coast.

Synonyms

Cottidae
vsfamily Cottidae
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of mainly small fish that live on the bottom of rivers and seas

is mainly marine and found in northern waters rather than occurring in freshwater

Surface Forms

family Cottidae singular
families Cottidae plural

Morphology

family + Cottidae

The phrase is directly compositional: 'family' (a taxonomic grouping) combined with the taxon name 'Cottidae' yields 'the biological family called Cottidae (sculpins)'. This naming pattern is standard in scientific language and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Family Cottidae comes from the old fish name Cottus, used for the sculpin fish. Picture a family photo of many big-headed, spiny fish — that image helps you remember that the word family means 'a group of related species', so family Cottidae refers to that group of sculpin fishes found in cold northern waters.