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Glite Dictionary
Lepidochelys kempii

Lepidochelys kempii

9.9
A small sea turtle living on North America's Atlantic and Gulf coasts that nests in large groups
  • noun
  • /ˌlɛpɪˈdoʊkəliːz ˈkɛmpiˌi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Lepidochelys kempii
  • Conservation efforts have focused on increasing the numbers of Lepidochelys kempii hatchlings along the Gulf Coast.

Examples

  • Researchers are working to protect the endangered Lepidochelys kempii along the Texas coastline.

  • The Lepidochelys kempii is critically endangered.

  • Conservation efforts have focused on increasing the numbers of Lepidochelys kempii hatchlings.

  • The Lepidochelys kempii is known for its unique mass nesting events called arribadas.

  • Many people are unaware of the Lepidochelys kempii conservation efforts.

  • Researchers are working to protect the endangered Lepidochelys kempii from poaching and habitat loss.

  • The Lepidochelys kempii is known for its rapid decline in population due to environmental threats.

Synonyms

bastard ridley
vsLepidochelys kempii
  • Specialized
9.9

A small grey sea turtle that nests on Gulf and Atlantic coasts of North America, also called Kemp's ridley

means the same species but uses the common name form
Atlantic ridley
vsLepidochelys kempii
  • US
7.4

A small sea turtle that nests on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America

means the same species but is another common regional name
bastard turtle
vsLepidochelys kempii
  • Specialized
8.9

A grey sea turtle that lives on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America

is the specific species name rather than a general regional description

Surface Forms

Lepidochelys kempii singular

Morphology

Lepidochelys + kempii

This is a scientific Latin binomial (genus + species) whose parts are not common English vocabulary and whose specific epithet ('kempii') carries no transparent lexical meaning for a B1 learner. Although taxonomy conventions are consistent across languages, the name does not compositionally convey 'a species of sea turtle' to learners who only know the constituent forms, so the meaning is not derivable.

Etymology

Lepidochelys kempii comes from old Greek parts: lepido- meaning 'scale' and -chelys meaning 'turtle', and the second name kempii is named after a man called Kemp who helped find the species. So the scientific name points to the sea turtle known as 'Kemp's ridley'.