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Glite Dictionary
African clawed frog

African clawed frog

1 6.7
A water frog from Africa without a tongue that has claws and is often used in labs
  • noun
translation icon : rana africana de uñas
  • The African clawed frog, native to Africa, can be found in a variety of aquatic environments.
  • African clawed frog (Xenopus)
  • African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis
  • female African clawed frog

Examples

  • Many African clawed frogs are used in scientific research.

  • Several African clawed frogs escaped from a laboratory and established a population in local ponds.

  • The African clawed frog is often used in scientific research due to its hardy nature.

  • Unlike most frogs, the African clawed frog lacks a tongue and uses its claws for feeding.

  • The African clawed frog is known for its unique appearance.

  • The African clawed frog is commonly used in laboratories for biological research.

  • Scientists often study the African clawed frog due to its unique reproductive traits.

Synonyms

Xenopus laevis
vsAfrican clawed frog
  • Specialized
9.5

A common African water frog with clawed toes used in labs

is the common everyday name used outside scientific contexts
tongueless frog
vsAfrican clawed frog
  • US
9.9

A frog with no tongue that lives mainly in water in Africa, Panama, and northern South America

is native only to Africa rather than multiple continents

Surface Forms

African clawed frog singular
African clawed frogs plural

Morphology

African + clawed + frog

The meaning is fully compositional: 'African' indicates origin, 'clawed' describes having claws, and 'frog' names the animal, so a B1 learner who knows those words can infer it is a frog from Africa with claws (a species descriptor). This follows ordinary noun-modifier patterns common across languages and requires no idiomatic or culture-specific knowledge.

Etymology

African clawed frog is a simple name: African shows where the frog comes from and clawed points to the strong claws on its feet, so early scientists used this clear picture to name it. That's why the name today refers to the water frog often 'used in laboratories' and known for 'lacking a tongue'.