Capra hircus

5.6

A goat kept on farms for milk, meat, and fiber

noun
/ˈkæprə ˈhɪrkəs/

Specialized

: Capra hircus

Veterinarians study the health of Capra hircus to improve livestock management.

Examples

The Capra hircus is often kept for its milk.
In biology class, we learned that Capra hircus is the scientific name for the domestic goat.
The Capra hircus is valued worldwide for its ability to produce milk and cheese.
Farmers raise Capra hircus for both meat and fiber.
Farmers often raise Capra hircus for their milk and cheese production.
The Capra hircus is known for its ability to adapt to various climates and terrains.
In many cultures, Capra hircus are considered valuable for both meat and fiber.

Synonyms

domestic goat

vsCapra hircus

1.2

A farm animal kept for milk, meat, or wool

is the scientific name used in biology and classification

Surface Forms

Capra hircus singular

Capra hircus plural

Morphology

Capra + hircus

This is a Linnaean binomial composed of a genus name (Capra, genus of goats) and a specific epithet formed from the Latin root hircus (goat/domestic goat). If a learner knows both constituent meanings, the compound meaning 'the domestic goat (a species of Capra)' is directly derivable from the parts, so the construction is compositional and transparent.

Etymology

Capra hircus comes from two old Latin words: Capra meaning 'goat' and hircus meaning 'male goat'. So the name simply labels the 'domestic goat', which is why scientists use it for that animal.