Pomacanthidae

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A family of brightly colored marine fish commonly known as angelfish, notable for their deep bodies and unique patterns
2. A group of reef fish that belong to the family Pomacanthidae, characterized by their striking coloration and varied shapes
3. A family encompassing various species of ornamental fish often found in tropical waters, known for their vibrant appearance and territorial behavior

Etymology: Its core is two Greek words describing a single body part. "Pōma" means a lid or cover, and "akantha" means a thorn or spine. Together they form "Pomacanthus," the name of the type genus, which refers to the sharp spine on the gill cover, the bony flap that shields the gills. The family name Pomacanthidae is built from that genus name by adding the "-idae" ending, which taxonomists use to mark a family rank. Ancient Greeks did not use this compound. It is a modern scientific coinage assembled from classical Greek roots, which is why it sounds ancient while describing a fish that Greek writers never named this way.

Synonyms: angelfish, marine angelfish, reef fish, tropical fish, Pomacanthid fish