Catadromous
Catadromous
Catadromous (pronunciation: /kəˈtadrəməs/) is a term used in Ichthyology to describe fish species that migrate from fresh water to the sea to spawn. The term is derived from the Greek words 'kata', meaning 'down', and 'dromos', meaning 'running'.
Etymology
The term 'catadromous' is derived from the Greek words 'kata' (down) and 'dromos' (running). It was first used in the late 19th century to describe the migratory patterns of certain fish species.
Description
Catadromous fish spend most of their lives in fresh water, but migrate to the sea to spawn. This is the opposite of anadromous fish, which live in the sea and migrate to fresh water to spawn. Examples of catadromous fish include eels and some species of salmon.
Related Terms
- Anadromous: Refers to fish that migrate from the sea into fresh water to spawn.
- Diadromous: A term used to describe fish that migrate between the sea and fresh water, regardless of the direction of migration.
- Potamodromous: Refers to fish that migrate within fresh water only.
- Oceanodromous: Refers to fish that migrate within the sea only.
See Also
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