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Definition of hoplo

hoplo

/ˈhɑːp.loʊ/
hop · lo
Plural:hoplos
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hoplo Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A freshwater armored catfish native to the tropical waters of South America (such as Megalechis thoracata), characterized by overlapping bony plates and commonly kept in the aquarium hobby.

Example

"The spotted hoplo is a highly active bottom-dweller that constantly scavenges for food in the aquarium substrate."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for hoplo

• Nearby Words

hopetoun falls
hopi
hopi rattlesnake
hoplo
hopper
hoppy
hops

Word Origin & Etymology

A clipping of the genus name Hoplosternum, derived from Ancient Greek 'hoplon' (armor or shield) and 'sternon' (chest), referring to the bony, armor-like plates along the fish's body.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hoplo. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hoplo
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