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Glite Dictionary
cavefish

cavefish

1 8.4
A fish that lives in dark caves and often has no eyes or colour
  • noun
  • /ˈkeɪvˌfɪʃ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : pez de cueva
  • The unique features of the cavefish include a lack of pigment and eyes due to their underground habitat.

Examples

  • Kind of like the cavefish that lose their sight because they are always in the dark.

    Academic text (2001)

  • Craig James robs cavefish of their sight.

    Blog text (14)

  • The blind cavefish have adapted to their dark environment by losing their eyesight.

  • Researchers discovered a new species of cavefish that thrives in complete darkness.

How Cave-Adapted

troglodytism
  • Specialized
9.9
troglodytic
  • Offensive
9.9
cavefish
  • Specialized
1 8.4
cave dweller
1 6.0

Surface Forms

cavefish singular
cavefishes plural

Morphology

cavefish = cave + fish (transparent) = cave + fish

The compound 'cavefish' is directly interpretable as a fish associated with caves; the biological specifics are specialized but the compound meaning is clear.

Etymology

Cavefish is simply the two words cave and fish, meaning a fish that lives in caves. Because caves are 'dark', these fish often lose their eyes and colour, so the name tells you they are fish adapted to life without light.