Plectognathi

plural noun

Plec·​tog·​na·​thi

plekˈtägnəˌthī

: an order of bony fishes that generally have the maxillary bone united with the premaxillary, the posttemporal united with the skull, and the gill openings greatly reduced in size, have the ventral fins rudimentary or wanting and the body usually covered with bony plates, spines, or small rough ossicles, and include the boxfishes, filefishes, puffer fishes, sunfishes, triggerfishes, and related forms

plectognathic

¦plekˌtäg¦nathik

adjective

plectognathous

(ˈ)plek¦tägnəthəs

adjective

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from plect- + -gnathi, plural of -gnathus

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