What’s in a name?

[knotical]

Neither “jellyfish” nor “starfish” are fish, so some prefer the terms “jelly” and “sea star”.
Why not “sea jelly”? Because there are freshwater jellies.

Any other common aquatic / biological misnomers out there?

 

[shakeybrainsurgeon]

"Cuttlefish", squid and octopi, are also not fish

 

[WVDiver]

Any other common aquatic / biological misnomers out there?

There are countless examples. Common names have always been a problem in this way. For instance, a lot of people think that any small fish is a minnow, of course this is not so, but few are interested in the knowledge of why this not so or in the Latin names that properly identify the individual spieces in question.

It is just human nature to call everything a fish.

 

[Bubble Junky]

Why isn't a 'seahorse' called a 'horsefish' ?

 

[Walter]

"Cuttlefish", squid and octopi, are also not fish

Yes, but squid and octopuses don't have "fish" in their names.

 

[shakeybrainsurgeon]

Yes, but squid and octopuses don't have "fish" in their names.

But they are still called as a group, cuttlefish

 

[Walter]

No. A Cuttlefish is related, but different from either squid or octopuses.

Look here for info on Cephalopods.

 

[shakeybrainsurgeon]

No. A Cuttlefish is related, but different from either squid or octopuses.

Look here for info on Cephalopods.

Thanks, Walter. I stand corrected on that point. But as to the original point, is a cuttlefish a fish, or a misnomer?

 

[knotical]

is a cuttlefish a fish, or a misnomer?

It’s another misnomer, just the kind of thing I was looking for. Thanks.
So what is an alternate name for cuttlefish? Perhaps cuttle, plural cuttles?
(Or would that be too sickeningly sweet because it sounds like cuddles !)

 

[underwasser bolt]

I call most of them food