Orectolobidae

plural noun

Orec·​to·​lob·​i·​dae

ōˌrektəˈläbəˌdē

: a family of carpet sharks comprising the wobbegongs that live mainly in shallow waters of the tropical western Pacific Ocean and have two dorsal fins, a well-developed fleshy barbel at the anterior margin of the nostril, small teeth with several cusps, and often brilliant markings on the skin

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Orectolobus, type genus + -idae

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!