Leptocephalus
/ˌlɛp.toʊˈsɛf.ə.ləs/noun
A slender, transparent larval stage of certain eels and related fishes.
Did you know?Leptocephalus was coined from Greek roots used in scientific Latin, and the same lepto- root shows up in words for things that are thin, subtle, or finely divided.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
λεπτός (leptós)
“thin, slender, fine”
Ancient Greek
Greek
κεφαλή (kephalḗ)
“head”
19th Century
New Latin
leptocephalus
“a scientific term for a slender-headed larva”
Modern English
English
leptocephalus
“the transparent larval stage of certain eels and related fishes”
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