poeciliid fish

9.9

Small bright fish that give birth to live young, like guppies and mollies

noun
/ˈpoʊɪˌsɪliɪd fɪʃ/

Specialized

: peces poecílidos

Many aquarium enthusiasts keep poeciliid fish like guppies and mollies because of their bright colors.

Examples

Poeciliid fish are frequently introduced to ponds for mosquito control due to their appetite for larvae.
The study examined the reproductive habits of several species of poeciliid fish in brackish environments.
Look at that beautiful poeciliid fish swimming gracefully!
The poeciliid fish are popular in home aquariums.
Poeciliid fish are frequently introduced to ponds for mosquito control due to their appetite for larvae.
Many aquarium enthusiasts keep poeciliid fish like guppies and mollies because of their bright colors.
Poeciliid fish are popular in home aquariums for their vibrant appearance and ease of care.

Synonyms

poeciliid

vspoeciliid fish

Specialized

9.9

A small fish kept in tanks that gives birth to live young and is often brightly colored

is the longer form adding the common noun fish

live-bearer

vspoeciliid fish

7.8

A small brightly colored fish that gives birth to young that can swim when born

is limited to members of one family, not to all fish that give birth

Surface Forms

poeciliid fish singular

poeciliid fishes plural

Morphology

poeciliid + fish

The meaning is directly compositional: 'poeciliid' names a particular group/type and 'fish' is the head noun, so 'poeciliid fish' simply denotes fish of the Poeciliidae. This follows standard adjective+noun modification and would be understandable to a B1 learner who already knows both constituent words (even if 'poeciliid' is technical).

Etymology

Poeciliid fish comes from the family name Poeciliidae, which may come from an old Greek word meaning 'varied' or 'spotted'. This image fits because these small, brightly colored poeciliid fish often give birth to 'live young', so the name helps you remember this group of colorful pond fish.