spookfish
spookfish Lexical Profile
• noun
Any of several bizarre-looking deep-sea fishes of the family Opisthoproctidae, characterized by highly specialized, upward-pointing tubular eyes and often a transparent, fluid-filled dome on their heads.
"Marine biologists were thrilled to capture rare footage of a spookfish scanning the dark waters above for the silhouettes of its prey."
A type of cartilaginous fish belonging to the family Callorhinchidae or related chimaera families, characterized by a smooth, scaleless body and a distinctive, elongated snout used to detect prey on the ocean floor.
"The long-nosed spookfish navigates the muddy ocean bottom using specialized sensory organs located on its unique snout."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A compound of 'spook' and 'fish', named for the bizarre, unusual, and often transparent or ghost-like appearance of these deep-sea creatures.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.