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Glite Dictionary
Eschrichtius robustus

Eschrichtius robustus

9.9
A medium-sized whale called the gray whale that lives in the northern Pacific Ocean
  • noun
  • /ˌɛs.krɪkˈtiː.əs roʊˈbʌs.təs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Eschrichtius robustus
  • The Eschrichtius robustus migrates thousands of miles from feeding grounds in the Arctic to breeding areas in warmer waters.

Examples

  • A gray whale's head... unlike the stout bowhead whale... is too soft to break through the ice.

    Big Miracle (2012)

  • The Eschrichtius robustus is known for its distinctive gray coloration and long pectoral fins.

  • When observing whales, scientists are often excited to spot the Eschrichtius robustus as it breaches the water.

Synonyms

gray whale
vsEschrichtius robustus
  • US
3 3.5

A medium-sized whale with grey skin that lives in the northern Pacific Ocean

is the formal scientific species name rather than the everyday name
Eschrichtius gibbosus
vsEschrichtius robustus
  • Specialized
9.9

A medium-sized gray whale that lives in the northern Pacific

is identified by the other Latin species name rather than that alternative label

Surface Forms

Eschrichtius robustus singular
Eschrichtius robusti plural

Morphology

Eschrichtius + robustus

The name is compositionally a genus + specific epithet, so a learner who knows 'Eschrichtius' (a genus of baleen whales) and the Latin root 'robustus' could infer it denotes a particular whale species (literally a 'robust' Eschrichtius). However, the taxonomic Latin epithet is not standard English and does not directly give the common name 'gray whale', so the meaning is only partially predictable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Eschrichtius robustus may come from a scientist called Eschricht and the old word robustus, which means 'strong' or 'sturdy'. So imagine a sturdy whale named after Eschricht, and that image helps you remember Eschrichtius robustus is the 'gray whale', a medium-sized whale found in the northern Pacific.