Updated 28 May 2025
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Capromimus Gill 1893 mimus (L.), actor or mime, having the “aspect” of Capros (Acanthuriformes: Caproidae, its family at time of description); Gill correctly anticipated that it “may prove not to be a caproid when anatomically examined”

Capromimus abbreviatus (Hector 1875) Latin for shortened, presumably referring to its “shorter form” compared with Bathystethus cultratus (Centrarchiformes: Kyphosidae), its presumed congener at the time

Cyttomimus Gilbert 1905 mimus (L.), actor or mime allusion not explained, perhaps referring to its similarity to Cyttus (Cyttidae)

Cyttomimus affinis Weber 1913 Latin for related, referring to similarity to C. stelgis

Cyttomimus stelgis Gilbert 1905 from stlengís (Gr. στλεγγίς), scraper, presumably referring to exposed surface of scales “rendered very rough by numberless minute prickles”

Zenion Jordan & Evermann 1896 diminutive of Zeus (Zeidae), referring to its similarity to that genus

Zenion hololepis (Goode & Bean 1896) hólos (Gr. ὅλος), whole or entire; lepís (Gr. λεπίς), scale, referring to scales covering entire body compared with presumed congeners in Cyttus (Cyttidae)

Zenion japonicum Kamohara 1934 -icum (L.), belonging to: Japan, described from a specimen collected at Mimase Market, Kochi, Tosa Province (now Kochi Prefecture), Japan

Zenion leptolepis (Gilchrist & von Bonde 1924) leptós (Gr. λεπτός), thin or slender; lepís (Gr. λεπίς), scale, allusion not explained, perhaps referring to smaller scales (90 along lateral line) compared with Z. hololepis (~67 along lateral line)

Zenion longipinnis Kotthaus 1970 longus (L.), long; pinnis, Neo-Latin adjective of pinna (L.), fin, i.e., finned, referring to the “unusual length” (translation) of the ventral fin (spine is >¼ SL)