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Glite Dictionary
Necturus maculosus

Necturus maculosus

9.9
A North American water salamander with red feathery gills that lives its whole life in water
  • noun
  • /ˈnɛk.tʊr.əs mæk.jʊˈloʊ.səs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Necturus maculosus
  • Unlike many amphibians, the Necturus maculosus retains its external gills throughout adulthood.

Examples

  • The Necturus maculosus spends its entire life in water and is often found under rocks in streams or lakes.

  • The Necturus maculosus is commonly known as the mudpuppy and can be recognized by its feathery gills and slimy skin.

  • Biologists conducted a study on the population decline of Necturus maculosus in the Great Lakes region.

  • The Necturus maculosus is often found in lakes and rivers.

  • Have you ever seen a Necturus maculosus in the wild?

  • In the wetlands, the Necturus maculosus can often be seen swimming gracefully near the bottom in search of food.

  • During the study, scientists noted that the Necturus maculosus prefers freshwater habitats with plenty of cover and hiding spots.

Synonyms

mudpuppy
vsNecturus maculosus
  • Specialized
9.4

A large water salamander with feathery gills found in North America

is identical in sense but used as the single word common name
mud puppy
vsNecturus maculosus
  • US
9.6

A large salamander with bushy red gills that lives in muddy water

has the same meaning but written as two words in some forms
waterdog
vsNecturus maculosus
  • US
9.9

A large salamander that lives in water in North America and has feathery gills

refers to the specific species rather than the broader genus group

Surface Forms

Necturus maculosus singular
Necturus maculosuses plural

Morphology

Necturus + maculosus

This is a scientific binomial (genus + species). Knowing 'Necturus' as the genus for mudpuppies lets a learner infer this is a species of that animal, but the specific epithet 'maculosus' is not defined here (and is Latin), so the precise common-name referent and descriptive detail are not fully predictable from the parts. Because the genus signals category but the species element and taxonomic convention require specialist knowledge, the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

The name Necturus maculosus comes from old Greek and Latin words. The part Necturus means 'swimmer' and maculosus means 'spotted', so the name gives a picture of a spotted animal that lives in water, the 'mudpuppy'.