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Glite Dictionary
Glaucomys sabrinus

Glaucomys sabrinus

9.9
Large flying squirrel active at night that lives in northern forests in Canada and the northern United States
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Glaucomys sabrinus
  • The northern forests are home to the elusive Glaucomys sabrinus, a nocturnal flying squirrel.

Examples

  • Researchers observed a Glaucomys sabrinus gliding silently from tree to tree at dusk.

  • The Glaucomys sabrinus is known for its impressive gliding abilities.

  • Climate change is affecting the habitat of the Glaucomys sabrinus across its Canadian range.

  • Have you ever seen a Glaucomys sabrinus in the wild?

  • Researchers observed a Glaucomys sabrinus gliding silently from tree to tree at dusk.

  • The northern forests are home to the elusive Glaucomys sabrinus, a nocturnal flying squirrel.

  • Climate change is affecting the habitat of the Glaucomys sabrinus across its Canadian range.

Synonyms

northern flying squirrel
vsGlaucomys sabrinus
  • US
7.4

A large North American squirrel that glides between trees using a skin flap

focuses on living mainly in forested areas across Canada and northern United States

Surface Forms

Glaucomys sabrinus singular

Morphology

Glaucomys + sabrinus

The genus name 'Glaucomys' directly signals a group of flying squirrels, so a learner who knows that constituent could infer this is a flying-squirrel taxon. However, the species epithet 'sabrinus' is not transparently meaningful to an average B1 learner and the precise species identity, size and geographic range cannot be derived from the parts, so the expression is only partly predictable.

Etymology

Glaucomys sabrinus may come from old Greek and Latin parts: glauc- meaning 'blue-grey' and -mys meaning 'mouse', while sabrinus may refer to a place name like 'Sabrina' in the north. This name gives the picture of a soft, grey mouse-like squirrel that glides in northern forests, so it points to the animal we now call the northern flying squirrel.