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Glite Dictionary
Plethodon vehiculum

Plethodon vehiculum

9.9
A small salamander from the west coast of North America with a narrow light stripe on its back
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Plethodon vehiculum
  • The Plethodon vehiculum is notable for its slender body and distinctive dorsal stripe.

Examples

  • Researchers observed several Plethodon vehiculum under logs during the spring survey.

  • Habitat loss has put the Plethodon vehiculum at risk in certain areas of its range.

  • The Plethodon vehiculum is a fascinating species of salamander.

  • Have you ever seen a Plethodon vehiculum in the wild?

  • Researchers observed several Plethodon vehiculum under logs during the spring survey.

  • Habitat loss has put the Plethodon vehiculum at risk in certain areas of its range.

  • The Plethodon vehiculum is notable for its slender body and distinctive dorsal stripe.

Synonyms

western red-backed salamander
vsPlethodon vehiculum
  • US
9.9

A small salamander with a red stripe on its back that lives in moist Pacific coast forests

has a lighter narrow stripe along the back rather than reddish

Surface Forms

Plethodon vehiculum singular
Plethodon vehicula plural

Morphology

Plethodon + vehiculum

This is a Latin binomial species name used as a fixed taxonomic label rather than a compositional English phrase. Knowing 'Plethodon' might signal the genus (a group of salamanders), but the second element 'vehiculum' is not an English lexical item (and even if it were recognizable as Latin, species epithets function as arbitrary identifiers). Therefore a B1 learner who knows the listed constituents would not be able to derive the full meaning from them.

Etymology

Plethodon vehiculum may come from the Greek genus name Plethodon, meaning 'many-toothed', and the Latin word vehiculum, meaning 'little vehicle'. The species has a thin light stripe like a tiny road along its back, so that picture helps you remember this small salamander with a narrow stripe.