Alopius vulpinus
- noun
- Specialized
:
alopias
- The Alopius vulpinus can be identified by its distinctive long tail, which it uses to herd fish.
Examples
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Many divers hope to catch a glimpse of the elusive Alopius vulpinus during their excursions in tropical seas.
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Research shows that the Alopius vulpinus plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems.
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The Alopius vulpinus is known for its unique hunting technique.
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Have you ever seen an Alopius vulpinus in the wild?
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Many divers hope to see the majestic Alopius vulpinus gracefully swimming in warm ocean waters.
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The Alopius vulpinus is often spotted near coral reefs, where it hunts for small fish.
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Researchers studied the Alopius vulpinus to understand its role in the marine food chain.
Synonyms
1
6.8
A large shark from warm seas with a long tail used to stun small fish
1
9.4
A large shark from warm seas with a long tail like a whip that it uses to stun small fish
A large shark with a very long tail that it uses to hit small fish
A large shark in warm seas with a long whiplike tail used to herd and stun small fish
Surface Forms
Morphology
Alopius + vulpinus
This is a Latin binomial (taxonomic) name rather than a regular English phrase; even if a learner knew 'Alopius' as a group of long‑tailed sharks, the species epithet 'vulpinus' is not given and the common label 'thresher shark' is a specialised, non-compositional identifier. Binomial names require biological/taxonomic knowledge and are not predictable from everyday English constituents, so a B1 learner would not reliably infer the meaning.
Etymology
Alopius vulpinus may come from old words meaning 'fox-like', with the second part vulpinus pointing to a fox. The thresher shark has a very long, whip-like tail that it uses to swat and herd small fish when it 'hunts', so the name helps you remember its long tail and clever hunting.