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Glite Dictionary
porcupinefish

porcupinefish

8.3
A fish from warm seas that puffs up and shows sharp spines to protect itself
  • noun
  • /ˈpɔrkjʊpaɪnˌfɪʃ/
translation icon : pez puercoespín
  • The porcupinefish puffed up and displayed its sharp spines when threatened.

Examples

  • When alarmed, a porcupinefish can inflate its body to appear much larger.

  • The porcupinefish can inflate its body to deter predators.

  • Divers often spot the porcupinefish hiding among coral reefs in tropical oceans.

  • Have you ever seen a porcupinefish in the ocean?

  • The porcupinefish puffed up and displayed its sharp spines when threatened.

  • When alarmed, a porcupinefish can inflate its body to appear much larger.

  • Divers often spot the porcupinefish hiding among coral reefs in tropical oceans.

Synonyms

porcupine fish
vsporcupinefish
7.2

A warm sea fish with spines that stand out when it puffs up

has identical meaning but is written without a space
Diodon hystrix
vsporcupinefish
  • Specialized
9.9

A spiny fish that puffs up and raises its spines to scare predators

is the general name for such warm-water spiny fishes
Diodon
vsporcupinefish
  • Specialized
9.9

A tropical or subtropical sea fish with spines that can puff up when threatened

is the common species-level name rather than the whole group
Diodon holocanthus
vsporcupinefish
  • Specialized
9.9

A fish with long spines that puffs up when scared and lives near warm coral reefs

is the broader name for similar fishes without stressing long spines
burrfish
vsporcupinefish
  • Specialized
9.9

A small spiny fish with short hard spines that can stand up for defense

refers to fishes that inflate and have sharp erect spines instead

How Spiny

porcupinefish
8.3
pufferfish
1 6.3

Surface Forms

porcupinefish singular
porcupinefishes plural

Morphology

porcupinefish = porcupine + fish (transparent) = porcupine + fish

The compound 'porcupine' + 'fish' clearly denotes a fish resembling a porcupine (spines), so learners who know both words can infer the basic meaning.

Etymology

Porcupinefish is a simple combination of porcupine, the animal known for 'sharp quills', and fish. That's why the name fits: this fish can puff up and raise spines like a porcupine to protect itself.