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Glite Dictionary
Latimeridae

Latimeridae

9.9
A group of fish with lobed fins, mostly extinct except one living species
  • noun
  • /ˌlætɪˈmɛrɪdi/
  • Specialized
: Latimeridae
  • The Latimeridae family includes the coelacanth, a rare living fossil.

Examples

  • The discovery of the living Latimeridae shocked scientists who believed the family was extinct.

  • Paleontologists study ancient fossils to learn more about prehistoric Latimeridae.

  • Members of the Latimeridae family have distinctive lobed fins and a unique evolutionary history.

  • Did you know that the Latimeridae family is almost entirely extinct?

  • Members of the Latimeridae family have distinctive lobed fins that set them apart from other fish.

  • Paleontologists study the fossils of Latimeridae to understand their evolution and extinction.

  • The discovery of a living Latimeridae surprised researchers, as most believed this family had disappeared.

Surface Forms

Latimeridae singular
Latimeridaes plural
Latimeridae plural

Morphology

Latimeridae = Latimer (opaque) = Latimer + idae

The suffix '-idae' is a specialized taxonomic ending (family-level) and is not a productive, semantically transparent suffix for general learners.

Etymology

The word Latimeridae comes from the name Latimeria, which was named for Marjorie Latimer who found the living coelacanth, and the ending -idae marks an animal 'family'. So, Latimeridae means the 'Latimer' family of lobe-finned fishes, which is why the name refers to the coelacanth group.