Definition

Noun: 1. A taxonomic genus of large, silvery fish: "genus Tarpon" is the scientific name for a genus of fish containing the tarpon species. These are large, silvery, marine and estuarine fish known for their distinctive elongated last dorsal fin ray and bony scales.

Usage

• Scientific Classification: The term is used primarily in biological and ichthyological contexts to classify and refer to this specific group of fish.
  • The fossil record helps scientists understand the evolution of genus Tarpon.
  • Species within genus Tarpon are found in warm coastal waters.

Advanced Usage

• In binomial nomenclature: The genus name is always capitalized and italicized (or underlined) when used in formal scientific writing. The species name follows.
  • The Atlantic tarpon is classified as Tarpon atlanticus.

Variants and Related Words

• Tarpon (noun): The common name for the fish belonging to this genus.
  • We went fishing for tarpon in the Florida Keys.
• Megalopidae (noun): The family name to which genus belongs.

Synonyms

• Tarpon (when used to refer to the genus as a whole in non-scientific contexts).

Different Meanings

• This term has a single, specific meaning as a scientific taxonomic rank for a group of fish. It is not used in general language.

Noun

1. tarpons