Solomonid

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Relating to a family of fish within the order Perciformes known for their varied shapes and habitats
2. Describing members of a group of fish characterized by their schooling behavior and diverse ecological niches
3. Pertaining to the taxonomic group of fish known for their resemblance to sunfish and their presence in freshwater as well as marine environments

Etymology: Solomonid is a fish-family word that carries a king's name. It describes fish of the family Solomonidae, a group of perch-like fishes, and it is formed from "Solomon" plus the suffix "-id", which in zoology marks membership of a family. The name itself is a biological tribute: the family takes its name from a genus, and the genus was named after the biblical king Solomon, a figure whose wisdom and fame made him an apt namesake for a group of fish. Using a personal name as the root of a taxonomic term follows a long convention in naming organisms, and the "-id" ending is the standard one for families. Anyone who meets the word in a text on fish classification can read it straight off its parts: a Solomon-named group, given the family ending that places it among the perch-like fishes.

Synonyms: Solomonic