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Glite Dictionary
Pteropus hypomelanus

Pteropus hypomelanus

9.9
A small fruit bat that lives on islands in Southeast Asia and the western Pacific
  • noun
  • Specialized
: Pteropus hypomelanus
  • The Pteropus hypomelanus primarily feeds on fruits and blossoms found in tropical forests.

Examples

  • Researchers observed a large colony of Pteropus hypomelanus roosting in the mangrove trees.

  • Conservationists are studying the declining numbers of Pteropus hypomelanus in several island habitats.

  • The Pteropus hypomelanus is known for its large wingspan.

  • Have you ever seen a Pteropus hypomelanus in the wild?

  • Conservationists are studying the declining numbers of Pteropus hypomelanus in several island habitats.

  • Researchers observed a large colony of Pteropus hypomelanus roosting in the mangrove trees.

  • The Pteropus hypomelanus primarily feeds on fruits and blossoms found in tropical forests.

Surface Forms

Pteropus hypomelanus singular
Pteropus hypomelanuses plural

Morphology

Pteropus + hypomelanus

The phrase is a binomial Latin species name, so a learner who recognises 'Pteropus' (a genus of large fruit bats) can transparently infer that this refers to a particular kind of Pteropus bat. However, 'hypomelanus' is not a common English word and its descriptive meaning is not predictable to a B1 learner, so the full specific sense (beyond 'a species of Pteropus') is not derivable.

Etymology

Pteropus hypomelanus may come from Greek words meaning wing and foot for Pteropus, and less and black for hypomelanus. So the name creates the picture of a 'wing-foot' animal with somewhat dark fur, which fits this small 'flying fox' bat.