Cetorhinidae

9.9

A family of large sharks that feed by filtering tiny animals from the sea, including the basking shark

noun
/ˌsɛtəˈraɪnɪdi/

Specialized

: Cetorhinidae

Some older taxonomic classifications placed the basking shark in its own family, Cetorhinidae.

Examples

The Cetorhinidae family consists primarily of the basking shark, known for its enormous size and gentle nature.
The Cetorhinidae family includes the largest species of sharks.
Marine biologists study the Cetorhinidae family to understand more about the evolutionary history of filter-feeding sharks.
Some older taxonomic classifications placed the basking shark in its own family, Cetorhinidae.
Did you know that Cetorhinidae are filter feeders?
Marine biologists study the Cetorhinidae family to understand more about the evolutionary history of filter-feeding sharks.
The Cetorhinidae family consists primarily of the basking shark, known for its enormous size and gentle nature.

Synonyms

family Cetorhinidae

vsCetorhinidae

Specialized

9.9

A group of large sharks that includes only the basking shark

focuses on large filter feeders and includes that species regardless of rank

Compounds

family Cetorhinidae

Specialized

9.9

A group of large sharks that includes only the basking shark

Surface Forms

Cetorhinidae singular

Cetorhinidaes plural

Morphology

Cetorhinidae = Cetorhinus (opaque) = Cetorhin + idae

The formation uses the scientific taxonomic suffix '-idae' (family) attached to a Latinized genus stem, which is specialized biological nomenclature not transparently meaningful to general learners.

Etymology

The word Cetorhinidae comes from Greek roots: Ceto- from 'kētos' meaning 'sea monster' or 'whale', rhin- from 'rhinos' meaning 'nose', and the ending -idae which marks an animal 'family'. So you can remember Cetorhinidae as the 'whale-nosed' family, a simple image for the very large basking shark with its big snout and mouth used for filter feeding.