mouthbreeder

English

Etymology

From mouth +‎ breeder.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈmaʊθbɹiːdə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈmaʊθˌbɹidɚ/
• Hyphenation: mouth‧breed‧er

Noun

mouthbreeder (plural mouthbreeders)

1. (zoology) Synonym of mouthbrooder
   • 1968, Alan Mark Fletcher, “The Mouthbreeder”, in Unusual Aquarium Fishes, Philadelphia, Pa., New York, N.Y.: J. B. Lippincott Company, →OCLC, page 83:

     The parents of certain African and Asian fishes show a sacrificial devotion to their young that must surely surpass the devotion of any other members of the animal kingdom. The mother or father mouthbreeder carries the eggs and babies around in his or her mouth.