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Glite Dictionary
Lophodytes cucullatus

Lophodytes cucullatus

9.9
A small North American duck whose male has tall round feathers on his head
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Lophodytes cucullatus
  • The striking crest of the male Lophodytes cucullatus makes it easy to identify among other waterfowl.

Examples

  • Researchers study Lophodytes cucullatus to learn more about habitat preferences in migratory ducks.

  • Birdwatchers were thrilled to spot a pair of Lophodytes cucullatus on the lake this winter.

  • Look at that beautiful Lophodytes cucullatus!

  • What a stunning Lophodytes cucullatus that is!

  • Birdwatchers were thrilled to spot a pair of Lophodytes cucullatus on the lake this winter.

  • The striking crest of the male Lophodytes cucullatus makes it easy to identify among other waterfowl.

  • Researchers study Lophodytes cucullatus to learn more about habitat preferences in migratory ducks.

Synonyms

hooded merganser
vsLophodytes cucullatus
  • US
9.9

A small duck from North America with a round crest on the male's head

is the Latin scientific name for the same species not the common name
hooded sheldrake
vsLophodytes cucullatus
  • US
9.9

A small North American duck whose male has a large fan-shaped crest

focuses on a high circular crest on the male rather than a fan shape

Surface Forms

Lophodytes cucullatus singular
Lophodytes cucullatus plural

Morphology

Lophodytes + cucullatus

This is a Latin binomial (scientific) name composed of taxonomic labels rather than productive English words; the second element 'cucullatus' is not listed in the provided dictionary entry, and the form and meaning depend on specialist biological/Latin knowledge. Even if a learner knew 'Lophodytes' means a group of diving ducks, the species epithet and taxonomic convention are not transparently interpretable by an average B1 learner, so the common meaning ('hooded merganser') would not be derivable.

Etymology

Lophodytes cucullatus comes from old Greek and Latin words: Lophodytes combines 'lophos' meaning 'crest' and 'dytes' meaning 'diver', and cucullatus means 'hooded'. The name points to the male duck's round crest that looks like a little hood, so it explains the common name 'hooded merganser'.