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Glite Dictionary
family Siluridae

family Siluridae

9.3
A group of freshwater catfish from Europe and Asia with long bodies and whiskers
  • noun
  • Specialized
: familia Siluridae
  • The family Siluridae includes many species of large, freshwater catfish native to Asia and Europe.

Examples

  • Members of the family Siluridae are distinguished by their elongated bodies and long barbels.

  • Ichthyologists often study the unique adaptations found within the family Siluridae.

  • The family Siluridae includes many species of catfish.

  • Did you know that the family Siluridae is found in Europe?

  • Ichthyologists often study the unique adaptations found within the family Siluridae.

  • Members of the family Siluridae are distinguished by their elongated bodies and long barbels.

  • The family Siluridae includes many species of large, freshwater catfish native to Asia and Europe.

Synonyms

Siluridae
vsfamily Siluridae
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of long, thin catfish native to rivers and lakes in Europe and Asia

focuses on freshwater habitat and common regional name rather than body details

Surface Forms

family Siluridae singular
families Siluridae plural

Morphology

family + Siluridae

This is a straightforward taxonomic noun phrase combining 'family' (a scientific grouping) with the taxon name 'Siluridae', so the meaning — the family called Siluridae, a group of catfishes — is directly derived from the parts. Such label constructions are cross-linguistically common and follow standard naming patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can understand the MWE.

Etymology

Family Siluridae comes from the older name Silurus, a Greek word for a kind of catfish, and the ending -idae shows it is a 'family' in scientific names. So the name literally means a group of catfish, which is why it refers to a family of freshwater catfishes today.