Amia

/ˈæmiə/ noun

Definition

A genus of freshwater fish, particularly the bowfin, known as a living fossil with ancient origins.

Etymology

From Latin or Greek 'amia,' the classical name for this fish; the bowfin has remained virtually unchanged for millions of years, making it a 'living fossil' in ichthyology.

Kelly Says

The bowfin (Amia calva) is basically a dinosaur that swims—it's been around almost unchanged for 150 million years and can breathe air, making it one of the toughest fish in North American waters.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.