Definition

Proper noun: * Genus Rhincodon: The sole genus within the family Rhincodontidae, containing the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), which is the largest known extant fish species.

Usage

• Genus Rhincodon is used in scientific and zoological contexts to classify the whale shark taxonomically.
• It is always capitalized, as it is a proper noun representing a formal genus name.

Examples

• The massive filter-feeding shark belongs to the genus Rhincodon.
• Genus Rhincodon is monotypic, meaning it contains only one recognized species.
• All modern whale sharks are classified under genus Rhincodon.

Advanced Usage

• In taxonomic hierarchy, genus Rhincodon is placed within the order Orectolobiformes (carpet sharks).
• The name Rhincodon is derived from Greek, with 'rhin-' meaning 'nose' and '-odon' meaning 'tooth', referring to the shark's distinctive snout and dentition.

Variants and Related Words

• Rhincodontidae (n): The family name to which the genus belongs.
• Rhincodon typus (n): The binomial (scientific) name for the whale shark species.
• whale shark (n): The common name for the species within this genus.

Synonyms

• (There are no direct common-language synonyms for this scientific taxonomic term. Its referent is the whale shark genus.)

Noun

1. whale sharks