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Glite Dictionary
Lepomis gibbosus

Lepomis gibbosus

9.9
A small bright fish that lives in fresh water in North America
  • noun
  • /ˌlɛpəˈmoʊs ˈɡɪbəsəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Lepomis gibbosus
  • The brightly patterned Lepomis gibbosus is a common sight in shallow North American lakes.

Examples

  • The Lepomis gibbosus is commonly found in lakes and ponds.

  • Scientists study the adaptability of Lepomis gibbosus in non-native habitats.

  • Anglers often catch Lepomis gibbosus while fishing for larger species.

  • Have you ever caught a Lepomis gibbosus while fishing?

  • The brightly patterned Lepomis gibbosus is a common sight in shallow North American lakes.

  • Anglers often catch Lepomis gibbosus while fishing for larger species.

  • Have you ever caught a Lepomis gibbosus while fishing?

Synonyms

pumpkinseed
vsLepomis gibbosus
  • US
1 8.2

Small bright fish that lives in lakes and streams in North America

is the same fish name but given as the scientific two word name

Surface Forms

Lepomis gibbosus singular
Lepomis gibbosus plural

Morphology

Lepomis + gibbosus

This is a Linnaean binomial (genus + species): knowing 'Lepomis' signals it is a type of fish, so learners can partially infer it names a fish. However 'gibbosus' is a Latin species epithet (not common vocabulary) and does not transparently yield the common name 'pumpkinseed' or the fish's distinctive traits. Because the genus gives some predictable information but the specific meaning is not derivable from the parts alone, the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Lepomis gibbosus may come from old scientific words that describe how the fish looks. The part Lepomis likely refers to its scaly head or gill area and gibbosus means 'humped', so the name — like the common name 'pumpkinseed' — reminds us of its round, colorful body.