Pediculati

plural noun

Pe·​dic·​u·​la·​ti
: an order of highly specialized marine teleost fishes including the anglers and batfishes that have the ventral fins on the throat and the pectoral fins at the end of a process suggesting a wrist or arm and consisting of the elongated and modified hypercoracoid and hypocoracoid and that have the anterior portion of the dorsal fin modified into a movable structure which stands out from the protectively colored body as a lure attracting prey within reach of the very large mouth

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from plural of pediculatus pediculate

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Cite this Entry

“Pediculati.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Pediculati. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

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