genus Thalassoma

9.8

A group of bright sea fish in the wrasse family that live on tropical reefs

noun
/ˈdʒɛnəs θəˈlæsəˌmoʊmə/

Specialized

: género Thalassoma

Researchers studied the mating behaviors of several wrasses from the genus Thalassoma.

Examples

The genus Thalassoma includes fish found in tropical and subtropical reefs around the world.
Many colorful species within the genus Thalassoma are popular in saltwater aquariums.
The genus Thalassoma includes vibrant species of wrasses.
Did you know that genus Thalassoma has about 28 species?
Many colorful species within the genus Thalassoma are popular in saltwater aquariums.
The genus Thalassoma includes fish found in tropical and subtropical reefs around the world.
Researchers studied the mating behaviors of several wrasses from the genus Thalassoma.

Synonyms

Thalassoma

vsgenus Thalassoma

Specialized

1 9.9

A group of brightly colored sea fish that live on warm coral reefs

focuses on taxonomic count and common naming rather than color or habitat

Surface Forms

genus Thalassoma singular

genera Thalassoma plural

Morphology

genus + Thalassoma

The phrase combines 'genus' (a biological rank grouping related species) with the proper name 'Thalassoma' (a group of wrasse fishes), so the meaning 'the genus called Thalassoma, i.e. a group of related wrasse species' is directly derivable from the constituents. This taxonomic 'genus + name' construction is standard in biology and cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

Genus Thalassoma comes from two Greek words, thalassa meaning 'sea' and soma meaning 'body', so the name paints the picture of a 'sea-body', a colorful fish. That's why the name is used for a group of sea fishes known as wrasses.