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Glite Dictionary
Anas platyrhynchos

Anas platyrhynchos

8.5
A common wild duck, the mallard, that most domestic ducks come from
  • noun
  • /ˈeɪnəs ˌplætɪˈraɪŋkəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Anas platyrhynchos
  • Many domestic duck breeds are descended from the wild Anas platyrhynchos.

Examples

  • The Anas platyrhynchos is commonly seen in parks and wetlands around the world.

  • Studies of Anas platyrhynchos populations have provided insight into migratory bird behavior.

  • The Anas platyrhynchos is commonly found in wetlands.

  • Did you know that the Anas platyrhynchos is the ancestor of many domestic ducks?

  • Many domestic duck breeds are descended from the wild Anas platyrhynchos.

  • Studies of Anas platyrhynchos populations have provided insight into migratory bird behavior.

  • The Anas platyrhynchos is commonly seen in parks and wetlands around the world.

Synonyms

mallard
vsAnas platyrhynchos
11 1.4

A common wild duck whose male has a bright green head

is the formal scientific name used by scientists for that species

Surface Forms

Anas platyrhynchos singular
Anas platyrhynchos plural

Morphology

Anas + platyrhynchos

This is a Linnaean binomial combining the genus name Anas (a group of ducks) with a species epithet; as a taxonomic name its referent (the particular duck species, i.e. the mallard) is directly signalled by that composition. Binomial nomenclature is a standard, cross-linguistic naming convention, so a learner who knows both constituents and the naming pattern will readily interpret it as the scientific name of a duck species.

Etymology

Anas platyrhynchos comes from old Latin and Greek words. Anas is Latin for 'duck' and platyrhynchos combines Greek words for 'broad' and 'beak', so the name paints a clear picture of a duck with a wide bill and is used for the mallard, the common wild duck.