catadromous

[ kuh-tad-ruh-muhs ]

adjective

1. (of fish) migrating from fresh water to spawn in the sea, as eels of the genus Anguilla ( anadromous ).

catadromous

/ kəˈtædrəməs /

adjective

1. See anadromous
   (of fishes such as the eel) migrating down rivers to the sea in order to breed Compare anadromous

Word History and Origins

Origin of catadromous¹

First recorded in 1880–85; cata- + -dromous

Word History and Origins

Origin of catadromous¹

C19: from Greek katadromos, from kata- down + dromos, from dremein to run

Example Sentences

Of the catadromous fishes there is a single example in our waters--the common eel.

From Project Gutenberg

Catadromous, kat-ad′rom-us, adj. of fishes, descending periodically for spawning to the lower parts of a river or to the sea.

From Project Gutenberg