Scatophagus
/ˌskætəˈfɑːɡəs/noun
A genus of tropical fish, especially the spotted scat.
Did you know?The name comes from Greek roots for “dung” and “to eat,” and it was applied to fish associated with filthy waters rather than because they literally fed on feces.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
skōr (gen. skatos) + phagein
““dung” + “to eat””
Late Latin
Latin
scatophagus
“a dung-eating creature”
18th Century
English
Scatophagus
“a scientific genus name for certain tropical fish”
Modern English
English
scatophagus
“the genus name for the spotted scat and related fish”
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