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Glite Dictionary
Dipsosaurus dorsalis

Dipsosaurus dorsalis

9.9
A small lizard with a long tail that lives in hot deserts
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Dipsosaurus dorsalis
  • The Dipsosaurus dorsalis is well adapted to the extreme temperatures of desert habitats.

Examples

  • The diet of Dipsosaurus dorsalis primarily consists of leaves, flowers, and fruit.

  • Scientists observed a Dipsosaurus dorsalis basking on a rock near the edge of the sand dunes.

  • The Dipsosaurus dorsalis thrives in the desert environment.

  • Have you ever seen a Dipsosaurus dorsalis in the wild?

  • Scientists observed a Dipsosaurus dorsalis basking on a rock near the edge of the sand dunes.

  • The Dipsosaurus dorsalis is well adapted to the extreme temperatures of desert habitats.

  • The diet of Dipsosaurus dorsalis primarily consists of leaves, flowers, and fruit.

Synonyms

desert iguana
vsDipsosaurus dorsalis
  • US
7.9

A small lizard with a long tail that lives in hot dry deserts and sits in the sun on rocks

is the formal scientific name used for the same species

Surface Forms

Dipsosaurus dorsalis singular
Dipsosaurus dorsalises plural

Morphology

Dipsosaurus + dorsalis

This is a Latin scientific name (binomial) composed of a genus proper name and a Latin adjective; these elements are not ordinary English words and 'dorsalis' is not attested in the learner dictionary. Knowing the constituents would not allow a B1 learner to infer that it denotes the desert iguana, so the meaning is not compositionally derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Dipsosaurus dorsalis comes from old Greek parts: dipsos meaning 'thirst', saurus meaning 'lizard', and dorsalis meaning 'back'. The name gives a simple picture — a 'thirsty lizard with a noticeable back' that lives in hot, dry places, so it fits the 'desert iguana'.