Revised 15 Nov. 2025
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Lyconus Günther 1887 lýkos (λύκος), wolf, presumably referring to two “canine-like” teeth on upper jaw and single “canine-like” tooth on each side of vomer of L. pinnatus; onus, presumably a Latinization of onos (ὄνος), donkey or ass (asellus in Latin), a name dating to Aristotle for an unidentified gadiform fish, possibly Phycis blennoides (Gadidae) but often applied to Merluccius merluccius (Merlucciidae) and hence used several times by Günther as a suffix for a hake-like fish

Lyconus brachycolus Holt & Byrne 1906 brachýs (βραχύς), short; colus, from kolon (κῶλον), limb, arm or leg, referring to shorter pectoral fins compared with L. pinnatus

Lyconus pinnatus Günther 1887 Latin for finned, presumably referring to “exceedingly elongate” pectoral fins, their middle rays extending far beyond the vent