Butterflyfishes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Colorful marine fishes of the family Chaetodontidae, found in tropical and subtropical waters and characterized by flattened bodies and vibrant patterning
2. Tropical reef fishes with compressed bodies and distinctive bright markings, belonging to the chaetodontid family and typically found in warm coastal waters
3. Brightly colored ocean fishes with laterally flattened bodies native to tropical seas, notable for their bold patterns and the family Chaetodontidae to which they belong

Etymology: "Butterflyfishes" is the plural of "butterflyfish," a compound of "butterfly" and "fish." The fish earned the name from its appearance: many species have bright, patterned colours and delicate, fanned fins that bring to mind the wings of the insect. The plural form follows the usual English pattern for words ending in "sh," which take "-es" rather than a bare "-s."

Synonyms: chaetodons