Meles meles
- noun
- Specialized
:
meles meles
- The Meles meles is known for its distinctive black and white markings.
Examples
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The Meles meles population is an important part of European woodland ecosystems.
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In many regions, Meles meles is a protected species.
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Scientists conducted a study on the behavior of Meles meles in its natural habitat.
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Unlike other badger species, Meles meles is known for forming large social groups called clans.
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Scientists conducted a study on the behavior of Meles meles in its natural habitat.
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The Meles meles population is an important part of European woodland ecosystems.
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Unlike other badger species, Meles meles is known for forming large social groups called clans.
Synonyms
A medium-sized animal with black and white face stripes that lives in underground holes in Europe and Asia
Surface Forms
Morphology
Both constituents are the same genus name ('Meles' = a genus of badgers), so a learner who knows those definitions could infer the compound refers to that badger taxon and thus to a badger. However, the Latin binomial convention (genus + species, sometimes repeated) and the specific identification as the European badger are specialized/taxonomic knowledge not fully predictable from ordinary English composition, so full understanding is not guaranteed.
Etymology
Meles meles comes from an old word meles that meant 'badger'. Scientists used the same word twice as the official two-part name, so Meles meles literally names the European 'badger'.
