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Glite Dictionary
sea catfish

sea catfish

8.1
A fish with small whiskers that lives in the sea and is often not eaten
  • noun
  • /siː ˈkætfɪʃ/
translation icon : bagre marino
  • Unlike their freshwater relatives, most sea catfish are not considered desirable for eating.

Examples

  • The sea catfish is known for its unique breeding habits.

  • The mangroves are home to a variety of species, including the sea catfish.

  • Fishermen often catch sea catfish accidentally in their nets.

  • Many sea catfishes are found in tropical waters.

  • Fishermen often catch sea catfish accidentally while trawling in coastal waters.

  • In the coral reefs, you can find sea catfish swimming among the rocks and sea grass.

  • Many aquarists appreciate the sea catfish for its interesting behavior and unique breeding habits.

Synonyms

catfish
vssea catfish
60 1.0

A fish with whisker-like feelers often eaten as food

is a marine type that is usually not used for food
siluriform fish
vssea catfish
  • Specialized
8.4

A freshwater fish like a catfish that lives near river bottoms and has whisker-like feelers around its mouth

is a marine subgroup rather than the mostly freshwater scientific group

Surface Forms

sea catfish singular
sea catfishes plural

Morphology

sea + catfish

The noun is a straightforward noun–noun compound: 'sea' specifies the habitat of the head noun 'catfish', so the meaning 'a catfish that lives in the sea' is directly derivable from the constituents. This compositional pattern (habitat/attribute + animal) is common cross‑linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

Sea catfish is a simple name: a catfish, a fish with long, cat-like whiskers, that lives in the sea. So, the picture of a whiskered fish in the sea helps you remember it means 'a catfish that lives in the sea'.