amphidromous fish

noun

UK /æmˈfɪdrəməs fɪʃ/

US /æmˈfɪdrəməs fɪʃ/

An amphidromous fish is a fish that moves between fresh water and the sea during its life, but not to have babies.

The goby is an amphidromous fish that swims from rivers to the ocean and back again.

SYNONYMS

migratory fish two-way migrant fish diadromous fish river-sea fish

RELATED WORDS

catadromous anadromous diadromy estuary goby

OTHER MEANINGS

2. A fish whose larvae drift to sea after hatching, then return to fresh water as juveniles.

Scientists studied the amphidromous fish to see how its young survive in salt water.

3. Any fish species that regularly travels between freshwater and marine habitats for reasons other than breeding.

The amphidromous fish in this river feed in the sea but grow up upstream.

4. A type of diadromous fish, contrasted with anadromous and catadromous species.

Unlike salmon, this amphidromous fish does not return to fresh water just to spawn.