pearlfish

[ purl-fish ]

noun

, plural pearl·fish·es, (especially collectively) pearl·fish.

1. any of several small fishes of the family Carapidae, living within pearl oysters, sea cucumbers, starfishes, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pearlfish¹

First recorded in 1585–95; pearl oyster + fish

Example Sentences

Pearlfish go inside the sea cucumbers’ butt and eat their gonads.

From The Verge

There are pearlfish that swim up the anuses of sea cucumbers and live there, eating their hosts.

From National Geographic

There are pearlfish that swim up the anuses of sea cucumbers and live there, eating their hosts.

From National Geographic

The pearlfish is impressive in numbers as well as appetite.

From Time Magazine Archive

Bay obtained a small number of pearlfish two years ago and kept some in cages in a water-covered rice field, others in test tanks.

From Time Magazine Archive