Echidnidae
/ɪˈkɪdnɪdiː/noun
A taxonomic family of egg-laying mammals containing the echidnas.
Did you know?In Greek mythology, Echidna was a half-woman, half-serpent monster described as the mother of many legendary beasts, including Cerberus and the Hydra.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Ἔχιδνα (Ékhidna)
“A viper or venomous snake; also the serpent-bodied monster of mythology”
Classical Greek
Greek
ἐχίδνα (ekhídna)
“A viper, and by extension the mythological female serpent”
Latin antiquity
Latin
echidna
“A viper or mythological serpent”
19th Century
Scientific Latin
Echidna
“The genus name for the spiny, egg-laying mammal, chosen from the animal’s snake-like association and mythological name”
19th Century
Scientific Latin
Echidnidae
“The taxonomic family name formed from Echidna with the zoological family suffix -idae”
Modern English
English
echidnidae
“The family comprising the living echidna species”