What is a betta fish? Betta fish—also known as Siamese fighting fish—are among the oldest species of domesticated fish. Their scientific name, Betta splendens, combines two languages: Malay ...

This makes “fish” a paraphyletic group—a scientific term for a group that ... By grouping all these wildly different animals under one name, we risk overlooking their astonishing differences ...

Its common, scientific and Hawaiian names are all derived from its physical appearance. Lauwiliwili refers to the similarity between the shape of the fish’s body and the wiliwili tree’s leaf ...

The basking shark’s scientific name, Cetorhinus maximus ... In the past, people thought the fish were basking in the sun as they cruised near the surface—hence their name.

The scientific name Phocoena is from the Latin word “porpoise” or “pig fish.” Sinus means “cavity,” a reference to the Gulf of California. Put together, Phocoena sinus is the “porpoise of the Gulf of ...