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Glite Dictionary
Hippotragus niger

Hippotragus niger

9.9
A large black antelope from East and Southern Africa with long horns that curve backward
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Hippotragus niger
  • The Hippotragus niger is admired for its striking black coat and impressive horns.

Examples

  • Wildlife photographers travel far to capture images of the elusive Hippotragus niger in its natural habitat.

  • The park ranger gave a lecture on the conservation status of Hippotragus niger.

  • The Hippotragus niger is often found in savannah habitats.

  • Have you ever seen a Hippotragus niger in the wild?

  • The Hippotragus niger is known for its distinctive back-curving horns and black fur.

  • In East Africa, the Hippotragus niger roams the open savannah, a sight cherished by wildlife enthusiasts.

  • Park researchers monitor the population of Hippotragus niger to ensure its survival in the wild.

Synonyms

antelope
vsHippotragus niger
28 2.9

An animal with long legs and curved horns that runs fast in Africa and Asia

is a specific large black species with sharp backward-curving horns
sable antelope
vsHippotragus niger
  • South African
9.5

A large African animal like a deer with a dark coat and long curved horns

is the Latin scientific name for that same mammal

Surface Forms

Hippotragus niger singular
Hippotragus nigers plural

Morphology

Hippotragus + niger

The name is a Linnaean binomial combining the genus 'Hippotragus' (a large antelope) with the epithet 'niger' (Latin for 'black'), so its meaning — a black member of the Hippotragus genus — is directly compositional rather than idiomatic. Although 'niger' is a Latin word and may be unfamiliar to many learners, if a learner knows both constituents the species name's meaning is transparently derived from them.

Etymology

Hippotragus niger comes from older Greek and Latin words: hippo meaning 'horse', tragus meaning 'goat', and niger meaning 'black'. The name gives a clear picture — a large, dark antelope with a horse-like head and strong horns that curve back, so the scientific name describes how the animal looks.