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Glite Dictionary
Cynocephalidae

Cynocephalidae

9.9
A family of gliding mammals called colugos or flying lemurs from Southeast Asia
  • noun
  • /ˌsɪnoʊˈsɛfəlɪˌdeɪ/
  • Specialized
: Cynocephalidae
  • Members of Cynocephalidae are sometimes called flying lemurs, although they are not lemurs.

Examples

  • The family Cynocephalidae consists of just two living species of colugos.

  • Scientists have long debated the evolutionary relationships of Cynocephalidae within the mammalian tree.

  • The Cynocephalidae family includes fascinating animals.

  • Did you know that the Cynocephalidae can glide between trees?

  • The family Cynocephalidae is known for its ability to glide seamlessly from one tree to another.

  • Colugos, which belong to Cynocephalidae, are often recognized for their unique body structure and gliding skills.

  • Scientists classify Cynocephalidae within the order Dermoptera, emphasizing their unique adaptations for life in the trees.

Surface Forms

Cynocephalidae singular
Cynocephalidae plural

Morphology

Cynocephalidae = cyno + cephal + idae

This is a specialized taxonomic name formed from Greek combining forms ('cyno-' + 'cephal-') plus the scientific family suffix '-idae'; the components are not standalone English words and the meaning is not recoverable for an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Cynocephalidae comes from Greek parts cyno- 'dog', -cephal- 'head', and the animal-family ending -idae. It literally means 'dog-headed family' because early scientists thought these gliding mammals had a dog-like head, so the name points to their head shape today.