surfperch

American  

[surf-purch] / ˈsɜrfˌpɜrtʃ /

noun

• surfperch,
  plural
• surfperches
  plural

1. any of several fishes of the viviparous family Embiotocidae, mostly inhabiting shallow waters along the Pacific coast of North America: named for certain similarities to perch.

---

surfperch British  

/ ˈsɜːfˌpɜːtʃ /

noun

1. Also called: sea perch.  any viviparous marine percoid fish of the family Embiotocidae, of North American Pacific coastal waters

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• surfperch
  plural
• surfperches
  plural

Etymology

Origin of surfperch

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; surf + perch ²

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

surfperch

Like the glistening scales on the surfperch and swordtails that Cummings studied, the túngara’s costly mating call did not evolve to convey any pragmatic information about health or fitness.

From New York Times ● Jan. 9, 2019

In her studies, Cummings showed that surfperch living in dim or murky waters generally preferred shiny ornaments, while surfperch inhabiting zones of mercurial brightness favored bold colors.

From New York Times ● Jan. 9, 2019

When she examined the eyes of one surfperch species, Hypsurus caryi, that swam through variously lit parts of the forest, she found an abundance of opsin proteins4.

From Nature ● Oct. 6, 2015

The researchers also found traces of small marine mammals, along with rockfish, sculpin, surfperch as well as herring and/or sardine.

From Scientific American ● Mar. 3, 2011

Leopards will also readily take squid, surfperch, herring and anchovies, but they also have a sweet tooth for larger, oily baits.

From Time Magazine Archive