Elephantfishes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Several species of cartilaginous deep-sea fishes related to sharks, known for a long trunk-like snout and large eyes
2. Deep-water chimaera fishes that have a distinctive elongated snout resembling a small elephant's trunk
3. Cartilaginous marine fishes of the chimaera group, named for the long, trunk-shaped projection extending from their heads

Etymology: "Elephantfishes" is simply the plural of "elephantfish", the name for fishes of the family Callorhinchidae, the Elephant fish (or elephant shark), a cartilaginous relative of sharks and rays. The plural follows the usual English pattern for a compound noun ending in "-fish", with the final element taking "-es" because it ends in a "sh" sound. The name is a plain compound of "elephant" and "fish", describing the fleshy, trunk-like snout that projects from the front of the head. Its literal meaning is therefore "elephant-like fish", a descriptive name rather than a coinage with a notable author or date, and the compound is transparent in its parts.

Synonyms: chimaera