Felis chaus
- noun
- Specialized
:
Felis chaus
- With its slender build and long legs, the Felis chaus stands out from other wildcats.
Examples
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The Felis chaus can be recognized by its distinctive yellowish-gray coat and slender body.
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Zoologists studied the behavior of Felis chaus in protected reserves across India.
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The Felis chaus is often spotted near wetlands and reed beds in its natural habitat.
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The Felis chaus is often found near water sources.
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Have you ever seen a Felis chaus in the wild?
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In the evenings, the elusive Felis chaus often prowls the jungle in search of prey.
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Wildlife photographers often aim to capture images of the rare Felis chaus in its natural habitat.
Synonyms
3
6.7
A medium-sized wild cat that lives near rivers and in grasslands in Asia and northeastern Africa
Surface Forms
Morphology
Felis + chaus
The binomial form signals a taxonomic name and 'Felis' (genus of cats) transparently indicates it is a kind of cat, so a learner who knows that constituent can infer it refers to a cat. However, 'chaus' is an arbitrary species epithet with no clear lexical meaning for an English B1 learner, so the precise sense 'jungle cat / small wildcat with a yellowish‑gray coat' is not derivable without prior exposure.
Etymology
Felis chaus is the scientific name of a small wild cat. The name may come from the Latin word Felis meaning 'cat' and a local word chaus for the 'jungle cat', which creates the image of a small wild cat that lives near reeds and wetlands, so the name points to that animal.