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Glite Dictionary
Carcharhinus leucas

Carcharhinus leucas

9.9
A large, aggressive shark called the bull shark that lives in warm shallow water near the coast and in rivers
  • noun
  • /ˌkɑrkəˈraɪnəs ˈluːkəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Carcharhinus leucas
  • The Carcharhinus leucas is well-known for its ability to swim in both saltwater and freshwater rivers.

Examples

  • Researchers tagged several Carcharhinus leucas to track their migration patterns along the coast.

  • Due to its aggressive nature, the Carcharhinus leucas is considered dangerous to humans.

  • The Carcharhinus leucas is known for its aggressive behavior.

  • Have you ever seen a Carcharhinus leucas up close?

  • Due to its aggressive nature, the Carcharhinus leucas poses a potential threat to swimmers in coastal waters.

  • Divers often encounter the Carcharhinus leucas while exploring shallow reefs, making safety precautions essential.

  • The Carcharhinus leucas thrives in both saltwater and freshwater, enabling it to adapt to various habitats.

Synonyms

bull shark
vsCarcharhinus leucas
  • Specialized
7 6.7

A large aggressive shark that lives in warm shallow water near coasts and in rivers

is the same species but does not stress freshwater ability

Surface Forms

Carcharhinus leucas singular
Carcharhinus leucas plural

Morphology

Carcharhinus + leucas

This is a Latin scientific name composed of taxonomic labels rather than ordinary English vocabulary; the elements are proper names (one is a genus, the other is an untranslated epithet) and 'leucas' is not a recognizable English word. A B1 learner who knows the constituent labels would not be able to infer 'bull shark' or the species' meaning from these parts, so the name is not compositionally transparent.

Etymology

Carcharhinus leucas comes from ancient Greek words: Carcharhinus combines words meaning 'sharp' and 'nose', and leucas means 'white'. The name paints a simple picture of a strong, sharp-nosed shark with a light belly, which fits the powerful bull shark that lives near coasts and even in rivers.