Erythrinidae

/ɛrɪθˈrɪnɪdeɪ/ noun

Definition

A family of freshwater fish native to South America, including piranhas and tetras, characterized by their small to medium size and often bright coloration.

Etymology

From the genus 'Erythrinius' combined with the Latin taxonomic suffix '-idae' used to denote a family of organisms. The name references the red coloring found in some members.

Kelly Says

Erythrinidae sounds scary because it includes piranhas, but most of these fish are actually colorful little community tank favorites—they're named for being red, but many wear jewel-tone blues and greens instead, showing how Latin names don't always match reality.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

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