title : Know Thy Seafood
Know Thy Seafood
Ever wondered how the barracuda got its name? Or the pomfret? Does the basa sound like an Indian name to you? What does one mean by crustaceans?
Here’s a look at the origins of some of the names of the aquatic animals belonging to the ‘seafood world’ along with some interesting facts that you may or may not know about them.
To begin with, the obvious one -
1. Seafood
The term seafood includes fresh and saltwater fish and shellfish. |
Literally meaning food that is sourced from the sea; sea + food. Of American English origin, this term is expected to have first been used in the early 19th century. The term applies to all freshwater and saltwater edible aquatic animals. In cooking lingo, the terms seafood and fish are used interchangeably, both mean edible fresh or saltwater fin-fish, molluscan shellfish, and crustaceans.
According to The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations’ article on fish consumption, published on 31 January 2011,“The contribution of fish to global diets has reached a record of about 17 kg per person on average, supplying over three billion people with at least 15 percent of their average animal protein intake.” It further reports that, “Overall, fisheries and aquaculture support the livelihoods of an estimated 540 million people, or eight percent of the world population.”
2. Fish
This word has originated from the Old English word fisc, which is derived from Proto-Germanic ‘fiskaz.’
As mentioned earlier, the term fish is used interchangeably with seafood to describe all edible aquatic animals. Humans mostly eat only the non-toxic varieties of fish.
3. Crustaceans
Crustaceans: crabs, shrimps and lobsters |
The Latin root being crustaceus which means ‘having a crust or shell.’ The word crustacean is said to have first been used in 1835.
Crustaceans are anthropods family that have segmented bodies which are supported by an external skeleton, instead of internal bones, known as the exoskeleton.
4. Anchovy
Anchovies are found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans |
Anchovies are small and slender saltwater fishes. They have a pointed snout and their mouth extends beyond their eyes. During the Roman era, anchovies were used for making a fermented fish sauce called garum.
5. Barracuda
Barracudas are prefer to swim near coral reefs in warmer, coastal regions. |
A saltwater predatory fish, barracudas are commonly found in tropical and subtropical waters.
5. Basa
Basa is a freshwater fish. |
Basa fish have a stout, rounded body.
6. Crab
Crabs have 10 legs |
Crabs are found both in freshwater and saltwater. The armour-like shell of these crustaceans is made of calcium carbonate. They are omnivores.
7. Halibut
Halibuts are demersal fish |
Like all fish, when the halibut is born it has eyes are on both sides (right and left side) of their head, however, during larva development one eye moves to the other side if the skull. This metamorphosis causes the halibut to have both eyes on the same side of the body. Since these fish are bottom-dwelling, living and fishing near the bottom of the ocean, this natural adaptation helps them catch their food more effectively.
9. Lobster
Lobsters are found in all the world’s oceans |
Lobsters have blue blood (no, not because they’re of noble birth ;) ). Their blood is blue due to copper containing hemocyanin.
10. Octopus
The octopus has arms and not tentacles |
These ocean-dwelling creatures have three hearts. Two hearts function to move blood to the octopus’ lungs and the third one works to circulate blood throughout the body.
11. Pomfret
In India, Pomfret is found in abundance along the west coast (Gujarat down to Kerala), and the east coast (Orissa and lower West Bengal). |
This salt water fish has a flat body and a deeply forked tail.
12. Prawn
Like other crustaceans, prawns also have 5 pairs of legs |
Prawns are found in both in salt and fresh waters. They are now also cultivated inland in brackish water. The fresh water prawns are more commonly known as Scampi.
13. Rohu
Rohū is a Hindi name, first known to have been used in 1829. Scientific name: Labeo Rohita.
This cultivable freshwater fish native to South Asia, belonging to the carp species, has now been introduced to some other regions of Asia and Africa.
14. Salmon
Most salmons go back to the river where they were born to spawn |
Salmons are famous for swimming upstream for spawning on gravel beds of rivers. When they’re young they live in the river, then migrate to the sea, and then make the journey back to the river to spawn.
15. Snapper
Snappers inhabit the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans |
These carnivorous, large, schooling fishes are well-known for their sharp teeth.
16. Squid
Squid are found in both warm tropic and lower temperature waters |
Squids are found in all the world’s oceans and can survive out of water for a relatively long time.
17. Trevally
Trevallies prefer to swim close to the seabed |
This predatory fish is commonly found in abundance in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
18. Tuna
Tuna is one of the most popular seafood across the globe |
Tunas are known to make long journeys.
19. Trout
Trouts are usually a freshwater fish |
Like salmon, some types of trout make a journey to the sea and come back to their freshwater habitat to spawn.
20. Tilapia
Tilapia is a warm water fish |
The tilapia is a fish of historical significance. As mentioned in our previous blog post, ‘A Brief History of Seafood’, these species of fish were one of the first to have been cultivated by early civilisation of Egypt.
If you have some fun facts or stories about seafood then why not add it into the comments section below?
Bibliography -
- Online Etymology Dictionary
- Oxford English Dictionary
- New World Encyclopedia
- Merriam-Webster
- Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822). Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Cultured Aquatic Species Information Programme,
- News Article: Fish consumption reaches all-time high, published on 1st January 2011, Rome, The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
Image Credits
Image Credit: Cover
Image Credit: Seafood
Image Credit: Fish
Image Credit: Crustaceans
Image Credit: Anchovy
Image Credit: Barracuda
Image Credit: Basa
Image Credit: Crab
Image Credit: Halibut
Image Credit: Lobster
Image Credit: Octopus
Image Credit: Pomfret
Image Credit: Prawns
Image Credit: Rohu
Image Credit: SalmonLists
Image Credit: Snapper
Image Credit: Squid
Image Credit: Trevally
Image Credit: Tuna
Image Credit: Trout
Image Credit: Tilapia
Image Credit: Seafood
Image Credit: Fish
Image Credit: Crustaceans
Image Credit: Anchovy
Image Credit: Barracuda
Image Credit: Basa
Image Credit: Crab
Image Credit: Halibut
Image Credit: Lobster
Image Credit: Octopus
Image Credit: Pomfret
Image Credit: Prawns
Image Credit: Rohu
Image Credit: SalmonLists
Image Credit: Snapper
Image Credit: Squid
Image Credit: Trevally
Image Credit: Tuna
Image Credit: Trout
Image Credit: Tilapia
Thus Article Know Thy Seafood
So few recipes Know Thy Seafood, hopefully can provide benefits to all of you . Okay , so this time postings food recipes.
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