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Definition of spiderfish

spiderfish

/ˈspaɪ.dɚˌfɪʃ/
spi · der · fish
Plural:spiderfish
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spiderfish Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A deep-sea benthic fish of the family Ipnopidae, native to abyssal oceanic zones worldwide, characterized by highly elongated pelvic and caudal fin rays used to stand motionless on the sea floor.

Example

"The deep-sea submersible captured rare footage of a spiderfish waiting patiently for prey to drift by on the abyssal plain."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for spiderfish

• Nearby Words

spider plant
spider tortoise
spider-tailed horned viper
spiderfish
spiderhunter
spiderlike
spiderling

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'spider' and 'fish', named for the fish's exceptionally long, stilt-like fin rays that resemble the legs of a spider as it rests on the ocean floor.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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