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Glite Dictionary
Bitis arietans

Bitis arietans

9.9
A large African snake with venom that inflates its body when threatened
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Bitis arietans
  • When threatened, the Bitis arietans can inflate its body and hiss loudly to deter predators.

Examples

  • The Bitis arietans is responsible for more snakebite fatalities in Africa than any other species.

  • Herpetologists were excited to observe a wild Bitis arietans during their expedition.

  • The Bitis arietans is known for its distinctive markings.

  • Have you ever seen a Bitis arietans in the wild?

  • Herpetologists were excited to observe a wild Bitis arietans during their expedition.

  • The Bitis arietans is responsible for more snakebite fatalities in Africa than any other species.

  • When threatened, the Bitis arietans can inflate its body and hiss loudly to deter predators.

Synonyms

puff adder
vsBitis arietans
  • South African
1 9.3

A large African snake that swells its body when threatened and has strong venom

is the formal scientific name for the same species

Surface Forms

Bitis arietans singular
Bitis arietanses plural

Morphology

Bitis + arietans

This is a Latin binomial species name (a taxonomic label) rather than a compositional English phrase; its meaning (the common name and behavioural trait) is not derivable from ordinary English word-parts. Even if a learner knows 'Bitis' as a viper genus, the epithet 'arietans' and the species' properties (puffing/inflating) are not predictable from the constituents, so a B1 learner would not infer the full meaning.

Etymology

Bitis arietans comes from old words: Bitis means 'viper' and arietans comes from a Latin word for 'ram' or 'butting'. The picture of a heavy snake that puffs up like a ram helps explain why this name fits the puff adder, a large venomous snake that inflates its body when threatened.