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Glite Dictionary
Orectolobus barbatus

Orectolobus barbatus

9.9
A shark with a flat body, spotted skin and tassel-like flaps around its mouth
  • noun
  • Australian
translation icon : Orectolobus barbatus
  • The Orectolobus barbatus uses its tassels to camouflage itself on the ocean floor.

Examples

  • Researchers studied the feeding habits of Orectolobus barbatus in coastal Australian waters.

  • Divers were excited to spot an Orectolobus barbatus resting among the coral reefs.

  • The Orectolobus barbatus is often found in shallow waters.

  • Have you ever seen an Orectolobus barbatus in the wild?

  • Divers were excited to spot an Orectolobus barbatus resting among the coral reefs.

  • Researchers studied the feeding habits of Orectolobus barbatus in coastal Australian waters.

  • The Orectolobus barbatus uses its tassels to camouflage itself on the ocean floor.

Surface Forms

Orectolobus barbatus singular
Orectolobus barbatuses plural

Morphology

Orectolobus + barbatus

This is a Latin binomial: the first element (Orectolobus) names a genus of carpet sharks, so a learner who knows that would transparently infer this is a particular species of that genus. However, the specific epithet 'barbatus' is not an English word (no dictionary gloss provided) and its descriptive sense (Latin for 'bearded') is unlikely to be known by a B1 learner, so the full meaning is only partially recoverable.

Etymology

Orectolobus barbatus gives a clear picture of the shark. The second word barbatus means 'bearded' in Latin and refers to the small flaps around the mouth that look like a beard and help the shark hide on the sea floor, so the name fits the animal.