Salmoniformes
/ˌsæl.məˈnɪf.ɔːr.miːz/noun
An order of ray-finned fishes that includes salmon, trout, chars, and their relatives.
Did you know?The ending -formes comes from Latin forma, “shape,” so scientific taxonomy often reads like coded ritual language: “this creature is of the salmon form.”
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
forma
“shape, form, figure”
Late Latin
Latin
-formis
“having the form of, shaped like”
Modern Scientific Latin
Latin
Salmo + -formes
“salmon + shaped like; a fish order named for salmon-like form”
19th Century
English
Salmoniformes
“scientific taxonomic order of salmon and related fishes”
Modern English
English
Salmoniformes
“the order containing salmon and close relatives”