sea hedgehogs

1 definition found

sea hedgehogs - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Diodon \Di"o*don\, n. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + 'odoy`s,
     'odo`ntos, a tooth: cf. F. diodon.]
     1. (Zool.) A genus of spinose, plectognath fishes, having the
        teeth of each jaw united into a single beaklike plate.
        They are able to inflate the body by taking in air or
        water, and, hence, are called globefishes,
        swellfishes, etc. Called also porcupine fishes, and
        sea hedgehogs.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.) A genus of whales.
        [1913 Webster]