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Glite Dictionary
Ictonyx frenata

Ictonyx frenata

9.9
A small African animal that eats meat and has black and white stripes
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Ictonyx frenata
  • The Ictonyx frenata is easily recognizable by its distinctive black and white stripes.

Examples

  • Researchers studied the habitat preferences of Ictonyx frenata across different regions of Africa.

  • Have you ever seen an Ictonyx frenata in the wild?

  • Farmers sometimes encounter Ictonyx frenata near their fields as it hunts for rodents.

  • The Ictonyx frenata is known for its distinctive stripes.

  • Farmers sometimes encounter Ictonyx frenata near their fields as it hunts for rodents.

  • Researchers studied the habitat preferences of Ictonyx frenata across different regions of Africa.

  • The Ictonyx frenata is easily recognizable by its distinctive black and white stripes.

Synonyms

Ictonyx striata
vsIctonyx frenata
  • Specialized
9.9

A small African mammal like a ferret with bold black and white stripes

is a wild small carnivore native across northern and sub-Saharan Africa
striped muishond
vsIctonyx frenata
  • South African
9.9

A small ferret-like African animal with black-and-white fur that people sometimes keep as a pet

is native across northern and sub-Saharan Africa rather than only southern

Surface Forms

Ictonyx frenata singular
Ictonyx frenatas plural

Morphology

Ictonyx + frenata

This is a scientific Latin binomial (genus + species) functioning as a taxonomic name rather than a compositional English phrase. Even if a learner knows 'Ictonyx' as a group of carnivorous mammals, the species epithet 'frenata' is specialized/Latin and not interpretable by a B1 learner, so the overall meaning (the striped polecat) cannot be derived from the parts.

Etymology

Ictonyx frenata may come from old words: Ictonyx meaning 'weasel' and frenata meaning 'bridled'. The name points to the small, weasel-like animal's black-and-white stripes, which look a bit like a tiny 'bridle' across its face and body, so the name helps describe its striped look.