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Glite Dictionary
Mustela nigripes

Mustela nigripes

9.9
A small wild ferret with black feet that lives on grasslands and is almost extinct
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Mustela nigripes
  • The Mustela nigripes is considered one of the most endangered mammals in North America.

Examples

  • Conservationists have worked tirelessly to reintroduce Mustela nigripes into its natural habitat.

  • Few people have ever seen a wild Mustela nigripes due to its rarity.

  • The Mustela nigripes is critically endangered.

  • Have you seen a Mustela nigripes in the wild?

  • Conservationists have worked tirelessly to reintroduce Mustela nigripes into its natural habitat.

  • Few people have ever seen a wild Mustela nigripes due to its rarity.

  • The Mustela nigripes is considered one of the most endangered mammals in North America.

Synonyms

black-footed ferret
vsMustela nigripes
  • US
1 8.9

A small wild animal with black feet and a dark face mask that lives on US prairies

is the formal scientific name for the same species

Surface Forms

Mustela nigripes singular
Mustela nigripes plural

Morphology

Mustela + nigripes

This is a Latin binomial (scientific) name rather than an English compositional phrase; knowing 'Mustela' as a genus label and an undefined form 'nigripes' does not allow a B1 learner to infer the common meaning 'black-footed ferret.' Taxonomic Latin requires knowledge of Latin roots or biological conventions rather than ordinary English word composition, so the meaning is not transparently derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Mustela nigripes comes from Latin words: Mustela meaning 'weasel' and nigripes meaning 'black-footed'. So the name paints a simple picture, a small weasel with black feet, and that is why it refers to the 'black-footed ferret' today.