Skip to main content
Hexagrammos decagrammus

Hexagrammos decagrammus

9.9
A common coastal fish people catch for food and sport on the North American west coast
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Hexagrammos decagrammus
  • Fishermen along the Pacific coast often catch Hexagrammos decagrammus for both food and sport.

Examples

  • Scientists monitor Hexagrammos decagrammus populations to assess the health of coastal marine ecosystems.

  • The vibrant coloration of Hexagrammos decagrammus makes it easy to distinguish from other nearshore fish.

  • The Hexagrammos decagrammus is popular among sport fishers.

  • Have you ever caught a Hexagrammos decagrammus?

  • Fishermen along the Pacific coast often catch Hexagrammos decagrammus for both food and sport.

  • Scientists monitor Hexagrammos decagrammus populations to assess the health of coastal marine ecosystems.

  • Have you ever caught a Hexagrammos decagrammus during your fishing trips?

Synonyms

kelp greenling
vsHexagrammos decagrammus
  • US
7.9

A common spotted fish that lives in kelp forests off the west coast and is often eaten

is the general name for the same fish without stressing spots or habitat

Surface Forms

Morphology

Hexagrammos + decagrammus

This is a Latin scientific (binomial) name rather than a compositional English phrase, so its meaning (the kelp greenling) is a taxonomic label not derivable from ordinary English word meanings. Even if a learner recognized 'Hexagrammos' as a fish genus, the species epithet 'decagrammus' is not a meaningful English word, so a B1 learner would not be able to infer the common-name meaning.

Etymology

Hexagrammos decagrammus may come from old Greek parts hexa ('six'), deca ('ten') and grammos ('lines'), because the fish has many line-like marks on its body. So the name points to a striped kelp greenling and helps you remember it is a coastal fish with noticeable lines.