Zenarchopterus: ancient Greek, means "the one with a life-giving fin", referring to the andropodium found in male fish.

zebrina: latinized after the zebra, due to the striped pattern.

zebra: refers to the pattern of the same-named wild horse.

Yunnanilus: after the Chinese province of Yunnan, where the first discovered species appear.

Yasuhikotakia in honour to the Japanese scientist Yasuhiko Taki

Xiphophorus: from ancient Greek, meaning „the one that bears a sword“.

Xenotoca: means "with strange young", refering to the "umbilical cord" (the correct term is "trophotaenia") of the newborn youngsters.

Xenentodon: ancient Greek, means "with disconcerting teeth"; this applies to the lower pharyngeal plate.

woworae: dedication name for Daisy Wowor, a carcinologist at the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, who collected the species for the first time.

whitei: in honour of “E. A. White, of the city of Mexico, in recognition of many favors received through his courtesy“.

victoriae: refers to Lake Victoria, where the species occurs.

urophthalma: from ancient Greek oura: tail and ophthalmos: eye, refering to the tailspot of the species.

unionensis: after the type locality, Bay of Union, El Salvador.

Umbra: Latin, means "shadow", refering to the dull coloration.

Tyttocharax: ancient Greek, means "tiny Charax"; Charax is another genus of tetra.

Typhlonectes: ancient Greek, "typhlos" meaning "blind", "nectes" meaning "swimmer", eg "blind swimmer".

The namebearing specimen, usually deposited in a museum collection. It forms the basis of the scientific defintion of a species.

Tylomelania: from ancient Greek " Melania wird calluses". Melania is another genus of snail.

Trichogaster: ancient Greek, means "filamentous belly".

translucida: Latin, means "shining through", due to the transparency of the fish.

Trachelyopterus from greece trachelia = extreme and pteron = fin, eg „the one with an extreme fin“

Trachelyichthys: ancient Greek, means translated "extreme fish"; however, the name rather refers to the close relationship to the genera Trachelyopterus and Trachelyopterichthys.

Tinca: this name was already in use in ancient Rome for the Tench.

Thayeria: dedication name for N. Thayer, who sponsored an important ichtyological expedition through South America from 1865-1866.

teugelsi: dedication name for Guy Teugels (1954 - 2003).

tetramerus: from ancient Greek, means "devided in four parts", referring to the pattern

tengah: after the province Kalimantan tengah on Borneo, where the species has been collected initially.

temporalis: Latin tempus means "temple"; refers to the dark stripe behind the eye.

Telmatochromis: means "swamp dwelling perch"; Boulenger, the first describer of the genus, obviously had wrong information on the biotope, because Telmatochromis are rock-dwellers.

Telmatherina: the word "telma" is ancient Greek and means "swamp"; Atherina is another genus of fish.

Tatia: dedicated to Charles Tate Regan, who was ichthyologist at the British Museum.

Tanichthys: „fish of Tan“, dedicated to Tan Kam Fei who discovered the species.

Takifugu: composed from two Japanese words: Taki meaning "waterfall" and Fugu, which is the name of the puffer which causes deadly poisoning when prepared for food in a wrong way; the term has multiple meanings, one can read it in a way that the fish shou

Taia: not explained in the original description. As the word has very different meanings in Latin, ancient Greek, and Sanskrit, it makes no sense to speculate here. It may also be an indigenous name for snails at Inle lake.

Taeniolethrinops: ancient Greek, means "striped Lethrinops". Lethrinops is another genus of cichlid.

Synonym: Synonyms are different words with identical meanings. If a species is named scientifically twice or more often, the eldest available name is the vaild one. The other name(s) are considered to be synonym(s) without validity.

Synodontis: an old name for an undetermined fish from the Nile.

Sturio (latin) means sturgeon, soma (latin) means body

stuebelii: after Alphons Stübel (1835-1905), surveyer of South America, geologist, founder of vulcanology

Strophidon: not explained in the original description, but probably from ancient Greek, meaning "with teeth turned backwards".

stoliczkanus: dedicated to the collector of the species, Ferdinand Stoliczka (1838-1874).

steyermarki: named for Julian A. Steyermark who led the 1953 botanical Venzuela Expedition of the Chicago Natural History Museum; the fish was discovered during this expedition.

Sternarchus: ancient Greek, means "breastbone-anus".

sterbai: dedication name for the zoologist Günther Sterba.

Steatocranus: composed of an ancient Greek and a Latin word, means "fat skull".

Spintherobolus: from ancient Greek, means about "emitting sparks", probably referring to the lateral line organ.

Spinibarbus: means "barb with a spine"; this refers to the dorsal fin spine.

spilopleura: ancient Greek, means "with spotted flanks".

sphenops: ancient Greek, means "with pointed head".

Sphaerichthys: from ancient Greek, means "spheric fish"

Spatuloricaria: Latin, means "Loricaria with spatula". Loricaria is another genus of whiptail catfish, spatula refers to the very special and genus-specific shape of the teeth.

sp. aff.: Latin, abbreviation of "species affinis", which means "similar species".

socolofi: dedication name for Ross Solocof (1925 - 2009).

Skiffia: dedication name for F. J. V. Skiff, a former director of the Field Columbian Museum in Chicago.

simillima: Latin, means "very similiar", which refers to the similarity of the species to L. cataphracta.

Sillaginopsis: means about "similar to a small Sillago"; Sillago is another genus of the family Sillaginidae.

Sidthimunki: named in honour for Sidthimunk, the collector of the species

Research ongoing. Most probably a dedication name for a Mr or Mrs Sewell.

Serrasalmus: from Latin, means „salmon with a saw“. Refers to the saw-like arranged scales along the keel of the breast.

Serrapinnus: Latin, means "saw-fin", referring to "the peculiar shape of the anal-fin rays of mature males." (Malabarba, 1998).

Serpenticobitis: means "snake-Cobitis"; Cobitis is another genus of loach.

Septaria: the Latin word septaria is used for a cementlike mass (the term cement derives from it). The generic name could also refer to the Latin word septum, which means "thin wall".

selatanensis: after the Province of Kalimantan Selatan on Borneo, where the fish initially has been discovered.

Scleromystax: combined from an ancient Greek and a Latin term, means "with hard moustache".

schwartzi: in honour of Willy Schwartz, an exporter of ornamental fish

schomburgkii: dedication name for the important German naturalist and explorer Robert Hermann Schomburgk (1804-1865).

schleseri: dedication name for D. M. Schleser, who dicovered the species in 2002 together with M. Weitzman.

Schizolecis: ancient Greek, means "with splitted platelet", this refers to an anatomical feature.

Scardinius: derived from Scarus, which was a name for a nowadays unidentifiable species of fish in ancient Greece.

scalare: from Latin "scalarum" = ladder, refers to the stripes.

Scabies = throatiness, itch (due to the shell structure)

sathete: after the vernacular name of the species in Bengal.

sanctaefilomenae: refers to the collection site of the type specimens ("lagoon near St. Filomena at the Parnahyba").

roloffi: dedication name for Erhard Roloff (1903-1980).

Derives from robustus, -a, -um (latin): strong, robust, sturdy

Rivulus: Latin, means "small brook". Probably the name was given, because the describer was told the fish live in brooks.

rivulatus: Latin, means "originating from a brook".

Riesei: dedication name, dedicated to W. Riese, who cellected the type specimens together with H. Axelrod.

retrocaudatus: Latin, retro means "backwards", caudatus means "tailed", referring to the characteristic shape of the caudal fin.

regani: dedication name for Charles Tate Regan (1878 - 1943), a famous ichthyologist from the British Museum in London.

rectocaudatus: Latin, recto means "straight", caudatus means "tailed", referring to the characteristic shape of the caudal fin.

Rasbora – the native bengali name for Rasbora rasbora

Pygocentrus: from ancient Greece, meaning is „rumpthorn“. Most likely this name was chosen because initially it was thought that the existence of fin rays in the adipose fin would be a genus-specific feature in contrast to Serrasalmus species, where fin r

Puntius: from the Bengal term "Punti" for such barbs.

Pterophyllum: from ancient Greek, means "finleaf" or "leaffin".

Pseudorinelepis: from ancient Greek, means "false Rinelepis" (Rinelepis is another genus of Loricariids).

Pseudorasbora: ancient Greek, means "false Rasbora". Rasbora is another genus of fish.

Pseudomystus: Ancient Greek, means "false Mystus". Mystus is another genus of catfish.

Pseudocrenilabrus: from ancient Greek, means "false Crenilabrus". Crenilabrus is another genus of fish.

Pseudobunocephalus: ancient Greek, means "false Bunocephalus". Bunocephalus is another genus of banjo cat. The name was chosen because in the past members of Pseudobunocephlus often have been mistaken for juveniles of Bunocephalus.

Pseudeutropius: ancient Greek, means "false Eutropius". Eutropius is another genus of catfish.

Pseudepiplatys: from ancient Greek, means "false Epiplatys".

Pseudacanthicus: from ancient Greek, means "false Acanthicus" (Acanthicus is another genus of Loricariids).

Pristobrycon: from ancient Greek, means "saw-Brycon"; Brycon is another genus of tetra, the word pristis (saw) refers to the saw-like arranged scales on the keel of the breast.

Priapella: means "tiny penis", referring to the male‘s gonopodium.

Potamotyphlus: from ancient Greek, "potamon" meaning "river" and "typhlos" meaning "blind", eg "blind river dweller".

Potamotrygon: ancient Greek, means "a Trygon that lives in rivers"; Trygon is another genus of ray.

Poropanchax: means "Panchax with pores", referring to the genus-specific arrangement of sensory pores on the head of the fish. Panchax is another genus of fish.

Polypterus: from ancient Greek, means "with many fins".

Polychromatism: means "with many colours". The term is used when within one species different colorations are observed.

polyacanthus: ancient Greek, means "with many spines".

pleurophthalma: ancient Greek, means "with many eyes".

Platydoras: from the ancient Greek, means "broad Doras"; Doras is another genus of talking catfish.

platorhynchus: from ancient Greek, means "with a broad snout".

Planiloricaria: Latin, means "flat Loricaria"; Loricaria is another genus of catfish.

Placidochromis: Latin, means "calm Chromis", referring to the swimming behaviour. The suffix -chromis is widely used for African perch-like fishes. It is an old fish name which is used in a scientific way nowadays for the damselfish, Chromis chromis from

piribebuy: after the type locality, the rio Piribebuy, an affluent to the rio Paraguay.

Pimephales: abbreviation of the ancient Greek Pimelecephales which means "fat head".

Phoxinus: a name used for a river fish in ancient Greece; it is not identifiable nowadays anymore.

phenochilus: ancient Greek, means "with shining lips".

Phenacogaster: from ancient Greek, means about "with elusive belly".

petricola: from ancient Greek, meaning "rock dweller".

perugiae: dedication name for A. Perugia, who was ichthyologist at the Trieste museum.

permaxillaris: latin, means something about "jaw with a backback", also referring o the mouth structure.

Pelvicachromis: the Latin word pelvis means "pelvis"; chromis is another genus of perch; the generic name refers to the coloration of the belly.

Pectenocypris: from ancient Greek, means something about "Comb-Carp".

Peckoltia: Named after Gustavo Peckolt, member of the Natural History Commission of Rondon.

Patella: name of a small, shallow pan that was used in ancient Rome; refers to the shape of the shell.

pastazensis: after the Rio Pastaza in the Pastaza province, Ecuador, where the species is found.

Parotocinclus: ancient Greek, means "alike Otocinclus"; Otocinclus is another genus of catfish.

Parauchenoglanis: Latin, "par" means "same as, corresponding", Auchenoglanis is another genus of catfish.

Parasphaerichthys: ancient Greek, means "similar to Sphaerichthys". Sphaerichthys is another genus of fish.

Parapteronotus: ancient Greek, means "close to Apteronotus"; this is meant in the sense of sister-groups. Apteronotus is another genus of knifefish.

parananus: after the type locality, the Rio Parana.

parallelus: allusion to the two black parallel stripes on the flanks

Parakysis: means "besides Akysis" (referring to the supposed relatiobship): Akysis is another genus of catfish.

parae: means „coming from Para“. Para is a Brazilian state.

Pangasius: from a native name of the type species of the genus, Pangasius pangasius, which lives in the Ganges river in India.

Pangasianodon: ancient Greek, means "with teeth like a Pangasius". Pangasius is another genus of catfish.

pando: after the Bolivian department of Pando, where the species has been collected.

Paleatus: from the latin word palea: chaff, eg „chaff-like colored“.

Paedocypris: ancient Greek, means "childish carp", in allusion to the larvae-like morphology of the species.

Otothyropsis: means "similar to Otothyrops"; Otothyrops is another genus of catfish.

Otocinclus: ancient Greek, means "with latticed ear"; referring to a bone in the skull, which is visible externally and placed where in humans would be the ear; this bone has a latticed structure.

Oryzias: derived from the scientific name of rice (Oryza), thus it means "belonging to the rice".

Orthospinus means "erected spine" which refers to a spine placed before the dorsal fin.

Orinocodoras: means "Doras from the Orinoco"; Doras is another genus of talking catfish.

orinocensis: means "originating from the Rio Orinoco".

orcesi: dedication name in honour of Gustavo Orcés-Villagomez.

orbicularis: from Latin "orbiculatus" meaning disc-shaped.

Opsodoras: from Opsis (Greek): Eye, Seeing, Face and Doras: another genus of thorny catfish; the name refers to the genus-specific round eye

opercularis: refers to the distinct black mark on the gill cover (Latin: operculum).

Omobranchus: ancient Greek and Latin, means "shoulder gill".

omnivorous: a species that feeds on anything, without specialization.

olmecae: refers to the indigenous people in Mexico, the Olmecs.

Oligosarcus: from ancient Greek, means about "with few flesh".

oenolaemus: ancient Greek for "with vine-red throat"

odontodes: skin teeth, spiny structures that can be observed usually even with the bare eye.

Odontocharacidium: means about "Characidium with teeth"; Characidium is another genus of ground tetra.

Nothobranchius: from ancient Greek "nothos" = false, untrue and "branchion" = gill, referring to the gill anatomy.

Nomorhamphus: from ancient Greek, means "with regular jaws"; this refers to the almost equally long upper and lower jaw, which is the difference to all other halfbeaks.

Neolissochilus: ancient Greek, means "new Lissochilus"; Lissochilus is anther genus of barb.

Neocaridina: means "new caridina". Caridina is another genus of shrimp.

narcissus: after the Greek half-god Narcissus, who fell in love with his own mirror image.

Nannostomus: from ancient Greek, means "with a tiny mouth".

Nannacara: means "small Acara". Acara is an Tupi word for cichlid.

naevus: Latin, means "spot" or "mark on the skin"; refers to the prominent shoulder spot of the species.

Mystus: not known for sure, but most probably dervied from the ancient Greek word for "beard".

Myleus: after the ancient Greek term for "millstone".

Morleti: named in honour for Morlet, the collector of the species

moolenburghae: dedication name for Mrs Moolenburgh who supplied together with her husband a large collection of fishes from Sumatra to Weber and de Beaufort for their epochal work on the fishes of the Indo-Australian Archipelago.

Monocirrhus: latin, means "with one thread", referring to the fleshy barbel at the chin.

Mollienesia: dedication name for Monsieur Mollien; the genus is currently seen as a subgenus of Poecilia by most ichthyologists.

Moenkhausia: dedication name for W. J. Moenkhaus, a friend of Eigenmann, the describer of the genus.

Modesta: latin: undemanding, modest (due to the modest coloration of preserved specimens)

mimulus: Latin, means "little actor", referring to the mimikry of this species with Corydoras diphyes.

micros: from anciet Greek „mikros“ meaning „small“.

Microrasbora: from ancient Greek, means "tiny Rasbora". Rasbora is another genus of barb.

Micropoecilia: means „small Poecilia“. Poecilia is another genus of livebearers.

Microphis: from ancient Greek, meaning "little snake".

Microdevario: from ancient Greek, means "tiny devario". Devario is another genus of barb.

Micagemmae: from latin micare „sparkle“ and gemma „gem“, eg. „sparkling gem“.

Metynnis: ancient Greek, means "in between the share"; this refers to the spine before the dorsal fin.

Mesoaphyosemion: the prefix "meso" means "in between" and was chosen to make clear that the systematical status of the members of this subgenus remains unresolved.

merah: after the indonesian word for „red“; allusion to the ground colour of the species.

melanzonus: means „with black zones“ according to the two horizontal black stripes.

Melanoides: from ancient Greek "similar to Melania". Melania is another genus of snail.

megistus: probably latinized form of the ancient Greek word megistos, which means "the greatest".

megasema: ancient Greek, means "with a big sign". This is referring to the large lateral spot.

megalotis: ancient Greek, means " with a great ear".

Megalancistrus: ancient Greek, means "very big Ancistrus"; Ancistrus is another genus of catfish.

mapiritensis: after the type locality, the Rio Mapirito

magdalenae: after the type locality: the Rio Magdalena in Colombia.

Macropodus: ancient Greek, means "with great fins".

Macrognathus: from ancient Greek, means "with large jaws".

Macrobrachium: from ancient Greek, means "with a large arm".

luxophthalmus: from ancient Greek, means "with luminescent eye".

lucipinnis: from Latin "lucidus" = bright, clear and "pinna" = fin, referring to the clear window at the base of each dark triangle on the fins (exception: the caudal fin), which is species-specific for S. lucipinnis.

Loricaria: from the Latin word „lorica“which is the chest protector of the Roman legionnaire, eg „one that wears a chest protector“.

Longipinnis: from latin, means „with long fins“.

longibarbis: from Latin, meaning "with a long beard", referring to the barbels.

llanero: after the Llanos in Venezuela where the species occurs.

lineatus: Latin, means "lined", referring to the pattern.

Leucaspius = white Aspius (another genus of the carp family)

leptorhynchus: ancient Greek, means "with a small snout".

Lepomis: ancient Greek, means "with scales on the operculum".

leopardus: Latin, means "looks like a leopard", referring to the pattern.

lentiginosa: from the Latin word for „freckled“.

lennoni: in memory of the murdered musician John Lennon.

Leiocassis: Ancient Greek, means "with smooth helmet".

larvophilous: mouthbrooders that take the larvae, but not eggs in the mouth for broodcare.

Lamprologus: means "the one that wears gloss"; refers to the shining spots on each scale of L. congoensis, the type species.

Lampiella: to remind of the grandmother of the describer of the genus, Isaac Isbrücker, Céline Lampie. She was murdered in 1943 in Poland in the Sobibor concentration camp by the nazis. She was „a small woman with a small hump“.

Lamontichthys: dedication name (ichthys is ancient Greek and means "fish") for Francesca La Monte.

Laetacara: from Latin "laetus" = cheerful and the indigenous name "acara" for cichlid. Refers to the pattern on the snout which suggests that the fish is smiling.

Ladigesia: Dedication name for Werner Ladiges (1910-1984).

lacimula: Latin, means "little teardrop", referring to the drop-shape of the lateral band on the caudal peduncle.

kyathit: after a burmese word for „leopard“, refering to the coloration of the spotted variety.

kuekenthali: dedication name for Willy Georg Kükenthal (1861 - 1922) who discovered the species.

kubotai: dedication name for Hitochi Kubota, a collector and exporter of ornamental fishes.

Kottelatia: dedication name for Maurice Kottelat, one of the most experienced ichthyologists specialized in the freshwater fish of Southeast Asia.

korthausae: dedication name for Edith Korthaus, who was editor of the German aquarium magazine "Das Aquarium" and discovered the species.

Kalochroma - from greek „with beautiful colours“

juruensis: refers to the type locality, the Rio Jurua.

jumbo: refers to the unusual size of the species compared with other members of the genus.

Jordanella: dedication name for David Starr Jordan (1851 - 1931).

Ivanacara: after "acara" and Ivan the Terrible, the first Tsar of Russia. The authors refer to the unpredictable temper of the fish which they have observed. According to them the species can be extremely aggressive and extremely peaceful.

istlanum: latinized from the Rio Ixtla, the type locality.

iporangensis: after the place where the types have been collected.

iniridae: after the type locality, the Rio Inirida.

Ilyodon: from ancient Greek „with a flat tooth“ in respect of the dentition.

Hypseleotris: ancient Greek, means "deep Eleotris"; Eleotris is another genus of goby.

hypostomus: from ancient Greek, means "with inferior mouth".

Hyphessobrycon: ancient Greek, means "small Brycon". Brycon is another genus of tetras.

Horae: in honour for Sunder Lal Hora, an important Indian ichthyologist

Hoplosternum: from ancient Greek, meaning "with a shielded breast".

Hisonotus: means "with regular back"; this refers probably to the lack of the adipose fin in the type species, H. notatus

Heterobagrus: means "different Bagrus"; Bagrus is another genus of catfish.

Herotilapia: combined from the generic names Heros and Tilapia, two other genera of cichlid.

Hemirhamphodon: from ancient Greek, means about "with teeth on the halfbeak".

Hemiloricaria: hemi is ancient Greek and means "half", loricaria is another genus of whiptail catfish.

hemiliopterus: from ancient Greek "with half-smooth fin".

Hemigrammus: ancient Greek, means "with half line", referring to the incomplete lateral line, which is genus-specific.

Hemiancistrus: ancient Greek, means "half an Ancistrus"; Ancistrus is another genus of catfish.

hellerii: in honour for K. Heller, an Austrian botanist.

Haplochromis: ancient Greek, means "simple Chromis". The suffix -chromis is widely used for African perch-like fishes. It is an old fish name which is used in a scientific way nowadays for the damselfish, Chromis chromis from the Mediterranean Sea and the

Gymnorhamphichthys: from ancient Greek, means "naked Rhamphichthys". Rhampichthys is another genus of knifefish.

Gymnogeophagus: from ancient Greek, means "naked Geophagus", referring to the unscaled snout. Geophagus is another genus of cichlid.

Gymnocorymbus: from ancient Greek, means something about "with naked peak", referring to the scaleless anterior back.

guntheri: dedication name for Albert Günther (1830 - 1914), one of the most important ichthyologists at all.

granti: dedication name for "Mr. William Grant, my most efficient Indian guide on the Potaro, who later made additional collections, which among other new species contained this." (Eigenmann, 1912).

gossei: dedication name for the ichthyologist Jean-Pierre Gosse.

goliath: after the mythological giantic warrior in the bible, Goliath.

Gobiopterus: ancient Greek, means "goby with wings".

Gnathochromis: ancient Greek, means "jaw-chromis", referring to the very special mouth structure. Chromis is another genus of fish.

gephyra: after the ancient Greek word for "bridge", which refers to the intermediate position of the species between Apistogramma agassizii and A. pertensis.

genibarbis: from ancient Greek, means "with a hairy cheek".

gatesi: dedication name for Gordon E. Gates, a zoologist specialized in earthworms, who worked at the Judson College in Rangoon and helped Albert W. C. T. Herre, the discoverer and describer of M. gatesi during his visit in Rangoon.

Garra: an indigenous name for those fishes in Bengal.

Galeatus: latin word for helmet, eg „the one that wears a helmet“

Fundolopanchax: combined from the generic names Fundulus and Panchax; the name should suggest that the members of the genus show features of both other genera.

fulvipinnis: from Latin fulvus: orange and pinna: fin, eg "with orange fins"

frankei: in honour of H.-J. Franke, an extraordinary keeper and breeder of ornamental fishes.

franciscensis: refers to the origin of the species, the Rio Sao Francisco.

Fossochromis: ancient Greek, means "burrowing Chromis". The suffix -chromis is widely used for African perch-like fishes. It is an old fish name which is used in a scientific way nowadays for the damselfish, Chromis chromis from the Mediterranean Sea and

floridae: after the native home country of the fish, Florida in the USA.

flavatra: Latin, means "yellow-black", referring to the coloration.

filamentosa: Latin, means "with filaments", referring to the long fins of the males.

Farlowella: dedication name for W. G. Farlow, former professor at Harvard University, USA.

everetti: dedication name for Alfred Hart Everett (1848-1898), the collector of the species.

Etroplus: from ancient Greek, means "with armoured belly"; this refers to the spines of the anal fin.

essequibensis: after the type locality, the Essequibo river in Guyana.

Erythrinus: ancient Greek, means about "the reddish".

Ernstichthys: dedication name, means "Fish of Ernst"; A. Ernst worked at the Universidade Central de Venezuela.

eriocheirum: from ancient Greek, means "with a hairy hand".

eques: Latin for rider or knight; it is unknown why the species was named so.

Ephippicharax: means "saddled Charax", which refers to a special feature of these tetras. They have a spine embedded in muscles in front of the dorsal fin, which is directed to the head.

Enneacanthus: ancient Greek, means "with nine spines". This refers to the structure of the dorsal fin.

endlicherii: dedication name for Stephan Ladislaus Endlicher (1804 - 1849).

endemic: this means that a species is found only there and nowhere else in the World.

Elopichthys: means "fish like an Elops"; Elops is another genus of fish.

elizabethae: dedication name for Elizabeth Cabot Cary Agassiz (1822-1902), the second wife of Louis Agassiz, who travelled with her husband on the famous Thayer expedition (1865-66) and wrote on the topic later. The name refers to the close relationship o

Electrophorus: named after an early physical instrument which transformed mechanical work in electrostatic charge.

Eigenmannia: dedication name for Carl H. Eigenmann (1863-1927).

eigenmanni: dedication name for the ichthyologist Carl H. Eigenmann (1863 - 1927).

duplicareus: Latin for doubled; refers to the extreme similarity to C. adolfoi.

dunckeri: dedication name for Georg Duncker, ichthyologist in the Zoologisches Museum Hamburg, who discovered (among other species) the harlequin barb, Trigonostigma heteromorpha.

dracula: after Count Dracula, a character in a novel created by Bram Stoker. Dracula was a bloodsucking vampire; in allusion to the fang-like "teeth" in males of the species.

diphyes: anicient Greek, adjective meaning "of double nature", in reference to the variation in body patterns, eg striped and blotchy.

digrammus: ancient Greek, means "with two stripes".

Dianema: from ancient Greek, meaning "with two filaments", referring to the barbels.

diabolica: diabolical; refers to red shining eyes of the species.

denticulatus: means "with small teeth"; this refers to the structure of the dorsal fin spine.

demantoides: ancient Greek, means "looks like a demantoid"; a demantoid is a garnet "that ranges in color from yellowish green to brownish green" (Werneke et al., 2005).

delineatus = without lines, refers to the incomplete lateral line

Danionella: diminutive of Danio; Danio is another genus of fish.

Cyphocharax: from ancient Greek, means "Charax with a hump"; Charax is another genus of tetra.

Cynopotamus: from ancient Greek, means "river dog".

Cyclopsetta: the name refers to the cycloid scales of the members of this genus, combined with the genus name "psetta", which is another genus of flatfish.

Curimatopsis means similar to Curimata which is another genus of tetras.

Ctenopoma: ancient Greek, means "comb cover", referring to the spines along the operculum.

cryptodon: from ancient Greek, means "with a hidden tooth".

Crenicichla: ancient Greek, means "Cichla with a comb"; Cichla is another genus of cichlid.

crassiceps: composed from a Latin and an ancient Greek word, means "with thick head".

Corydoras: from ancient greek, means „with helmet and spear“. This refers to the strong armor and fin spines.

Copeina: Dedicated to E. D. Cope, an ichthylogist with worldwide reputation.

congoensis: after the collecting site, the Congo river.

conchonius: from a common name for the fish in Bengal.

Compsaraia: from ancient Greek, means "with elegant fin ray"; the genus name refers to the anal fin structure.

Clibanarius: Latin term for a heavily armoured cavalryman.

Cichla: this is a name that has been used in ancient Greece for a nowadays unknown fish.

chuno: after the vernacular name of the species in Bengal.

chuna: after a local name for the species in Bengal.

Chilodus: ancient Greek, means "with teeth on the lips".

chatareus: from a popular name for the fish in Bengal, India.

Channa: ancient Greek, means "snapper", probably referring to the airbreathing.

cf.: from Latin „confer“ which means „compare with“. It is used when it is not sure that the species in question represents really the one named after cf.

Centropomus: ancient Greek, means "thorn-cover"; this probably refers to the spiny operculum.

Centromochlus: from ancient Greek "with lever arm", referring to the pectoral spines which can be a locked by a special mechanism.

Celiae: named in honour for the discoverer, Celia Epie from Menja, western Cameroon

Carinotetraodon: Latin, means "Tetraodon with a keel"; Tetraodon is another genus of pufferfish.

cardinalis: in allusion to the blood red garment of cardinals.

cantonensis: means "deriving from Canton (nowadays Guangdong)".

cancila: after an indigenous name for the fish in Bengal.

Caecomastacembelus: Latin, means "blind Mastacembelus"; Mastacembelus is another genus of spiny eel.

cacatuoides: means "looks like a cockatoo". The author of the species was reminded by the dorsal fin of the males in the hood of an cockatoo.

Bunocephalus: ancient Greek, means "with hilly head".

Bujurquina: after the Peruvian popular name "Bujurqui" for cichlids

brittani: dedication name for M. R. Brittan, who revised the genus Rasbora in 1954.

britskii: dedication name for H. Britski, ichthyologist at Sao Paulo, Brazil.

brichardi: dedication name for Pierre Brichard (1921 - 1990).

brachypopterus: ancient Greek, means "with a short fin".

Brachyplatystoma: from ancient Greek, means "short Platystoma"; Platystoma is another genus of catfish.

Brachygobius: from ancient Greek, means "short Gobius"; Gobius is another genus of goby.

Brachychalcinus: means "short Chalcinus". Chalcinus is another genus of tetra.

Boraras: anagram of Rasbora, referring to the reverse ratio of abdominal and caudal vertebrae in Boraras compared with Rasbora.

bonti: after the indigenous name applied to the fish at Towuti lake: "bonti-bonti".

bondi: dedication name for Frank E. Bond, who organized a expedition to the Orinoco where the species was discovered.

bonapartii: dedication name for prince Charles Bonaparte, "a prince of science".

boehlkei: dedication name for James E. Böhlke, an american ichthyologist.

bocourti: in honour for Marie Firmin Bocourt (1819 – 1904), a french zoologist and artist.

Brochis: ancient Greek, means "noose", referring to an anatomical structure at the barbels.

Blue Tor: the common name refers to the large blue scales on the back and the overall similarity of the fish to the members of the carp genus Tor.

Biotoecus: ancient Greek, means "house of life". The authors of the genus believed Biotoecus to carry their young in their gills.

Betta: after an indigenous Indonesian term for one of the species.

beni: named after the Rio Beni in Bolivia where the species occurs endemicly.

Baryancistrus: ancient Greek, means "heavy Ancistrus"; Ancistrus is another genus of catfish.

barrae: after the type locality, Barra at the Rio Sao Francisco.

Barbus: Latin, means "the bearded one", referring to the barbels.

Barbucca: means „with a bearded cheek“; this refers to the tuberculate cheek patches of the males.

Balitoridae: derives from the genus name Batlitora which is an indegenous name for a fish species in India.

Axelrodia: dedication name, dedicated to Herbert Axelrod.

Australe: from latin, means „southern“ in respect to the distribution of the species.

Auchenipteridae from the greece auchen: neck and pteron: fin, because of the postion of the dorsal fin.

atratoensis: after the type locality, the Rio Atrato in Colombia.

Astronotus: ancient Greek, means "with stars on the back", referring to the coloration.

armatus: Latin for armoured; refers probably to the extremely long dorsal fin spine.

arcus: Latin, means "bow" and "rainbow"; it is not explained what Eigenmann meant by giving this name in the original description, but most probably the name applies on the lower longitudinal stripe: ("... another (band) curving from the eye downward and

Apteronotus: ancient Greek, means "with no fin on the back".

Aplocheilus: means "with a simple lip", refers to the mouth structure.

Aplocheilichthys: from ancient Greek, means "fish that is similar to Aplocheilus". Aplocheilus is another genus of fish.

Apistogramma: ancient Greek, means "with unreliable line". It is not known wether the lateral line organ or the pattern is meant.

Aphyosemion: from ancient Greek, means „small fish with flag-like fins“.

Apholebias: from the anterior part of the word Aphyosemion and from Lebias; Aphyosemion is a genus of killifish from Africa, which is somewhat similar to Aphyolebias. Lebias is an ancient fish name, which was formerly used for what is now Aphanius. The wo

Andinoacara: means "Acara from the Andes". Acara is another genus of cichlid.

Ancistrus: from the ancient Greek word for "fishhook". This refers to the hooked spines that are placed on the movable Interoperculum (a bone between the gill-covering bones), called interopercularodontodes, which are spread in case of danger.

ancistroides: means "similar to an Ancistrus"; Ancistrus is another genus of catfish.

Ancistomus: compound of the generic names Ancistrus and Hypostomus; both are similar genera of loricariid catfish.

amazonicus: after the Amazon river, where the species occurs.

Amatitlania: referring to Lake Amatitlan in Guatemala, the type locality of the type species, A. nigrofasciatum.

altae: etymology not known (alta, Latin, means "high").

Lexicon: Tanichthys: „fish of Tan“, dedicated to Tan Kam Fei who discovered the species. Albonubes: latin for „White Clouds“, refers to the White Cloud Mountains in China, where the species was discovered.

Akysis: from ancient Greek, mens "without bladder", which refers to the lack of the swimming bladder.

agulha: after a popular name given to the species in the region of the Rio Madeira, the type locality.

aggregatus: Latin, means "aggregate", for the fish were found to be schooling.

Ageneiosus: from ancient Greek, means "without a beard"; this refers to the fact hat the barbels are usually hidden and cannot be observed externally.

agassizii: dedication name for Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz (1807-1873), an important naturalist.

Aequidens: Latin, means "with equal tooth". This refers to the set of teeth.

adoketa: from ancient Greek, means "unexpected". This refers to the natural range of the species which lies far from the distribution of the other members of the genus.

Acestrorhynchus: from ancient Greek, means "needle snout".

Acanthophacelus: means „cluster of needles“; in respect of the microstructure of the male´s sexual organ, the gonopodium.

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Synbranchus marmoratus