Congridae
/kɒnˈɡriːdiː/noun
A taxonomic family of marine eels that includes congers and garden eels.
Did you know?Congridae is built from the genus name Conger plus the zoological suffix -idae, which means a biological family—not a magical bloodline, though its members are famously eel-like.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
γόγγρος (góngros)
“A conger or sea eel; the ultimate source is uncertain beyond Greek.”
Classical Latin
Latin
conger
“A large sea eel or conger eel.”
1758
New Latin
Conger
“The genus name established by Linnaeus for conger eels.”
19th Century
New Latin
Congridae
“The zoological family formed from Conger plus -idae, the standard family-name suffix.”
Modern English
English
Congridae
“The family comprising conger eels, garden eels, and related marine eels.”
Explore more surprising origins