catadromous

adjective

ca·​tad·​ro·​mous kə-ˈta-drə-məs 

: living in fresh water and going to the sea to spawn

catadromous eels

compare anadromous

Examples of catadromous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

American eels are North America’s only species of catadromous fish. — Lela Nargi, Washington Post, 24 May 2022

This was my Holy Grail—a catadromous, trout-like mullet that lives in the clear rivers that tumble from the mountains. — T. Edward Nickens, Field & Stream, 27 May 2020

As catadromous fish, European eels spend most of their adult lives in freshwater rivers, streams, and estuaries before returning to the open ocean to spawn and lay eggs. — National Geographic, 25 Mar. 2020

Word History

Etymology

probably from New Latin catadromus, from cata- + -dromus -dromous

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for catadromous

• anadromous
• hybridomas
• bromus
• domus
• prodromus