Epigonichthyidae

/ˌɛpɪɡoʊnɪkˈθaɪ.ə.diː/ noun

Definition

A family of deep-sea fish with small bodies and large heads, found in oceans around the world.

Etymology

From Greek 'epigonos' (inferior imitator) and 'ichthys' (fish), named by ichthyologists who found these fish seemed like poor copies of other fish groups. The taxonomic suffix '-idae' marks it as a family classification in biology.

Kelly Says

These fish live so deep in the ocean that we've barely studied them—scientists named an entire fish family after a Greek word meaning 'inferior imitation,' which is hilariously honest about how little we actually know about their true characteristics.

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