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Dolichotis patagonum

Dolichotis patagonum

9.9
A large animal like a rabbit with long legs from the Pampas in Argentina that lives in pairs
  • noun
  • Specialized
: mara
  • The Dolichotis patagonum is well known for its long legs and rabbit-like appearance.

Examples

  • Unlike most rodents, the Dolichotis patagonum often pairs for life and raises young together.

  • Many zoos now include the Dolichotis patagonum in their South American animal exhibits.

  • The Dolichotis patagonum is known for its unique appearance.

  • Have you ever seen a Dolichotis patagonum in the wild?

  • Many zoos now include the Dolichotis patagonum in their South American animal exhibits.

  • The Dolichotis patagonum is well known for its long legs and rabbit-like appearance.

  • Unlike most rodents, the Dolichotis patagonum often pairs for life and raises young together.

Synonyms

mara
vsDolichotis patagonum
2 9.9

A large animal like a rabbit with long legs that runs fast in the grasslands of Argentina

is the scientific name used for the same Argentine rodent

Surface Forms

Morphology

Dolichotis + patagonum

The form is compositional (genus + specific epithet) so in principle it denotes a particular species of Dolichotis — the Patagonian mara — but this relies on knowing scientific Latin naming conventions and the meaning of 'patagonum'. The second element is not a common English word (not found in the provided dictionary entry) and Latinized species epithets are unlikely to be fully predictable to a B1 learner, making the transparency only partial.

Etymology

Dolichotis patagonum comes from old Greek words: Dolichotis meaning 'long ear' and patagonum meaning 'Patagonia', the region of Argentina where it lives. That picture of a long-eared, rabbit-like animal in Patagonia is why the name fits the Patagonian mara today.