Definition

This term describes fish that live in freshwater but travel to the ocean to reproduce.

Example

Eels are known to be catadromous, as they migrate to the sea to spawn.

Conversation

Did you know some fish are catadromous?

Really? I had no idea what that meant until now.

Yeah, they live in fresh water but migrate to the sea to breed.

That's fascinating! I wonder how far they travel.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Catadromous → It is formed from "cata-" (from Greek "katá", meaning down or downward) and "dromous" (from Greek "dromos", meaning running or course). The word describes fish that migrate down to the sea to spawn, indicating a downward movement in their life cycle.

Memory Tip

Think of fish that are 'running down' ('dromous') to the sea ('cata-') to spawn, which helps you remember that catadromous refers to fish that migrate from freshwater to saltwater.

Visually Confused Words