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Glite Dictionary
Ursus ursinus

Ursus ursinus

9.9
A large shaggy bear with a white chest patch that eats insects like termites and ants
  • proper noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Ursus ursinus
  • The diet of Ursus ursinus primarily consists of insects, especially termites and ants.

Examples

  • The Ursus ursinus is distinguishable by its shaggy black coat and white chest patch.

  • Wildlife researchers observed a group of Ursus ursinus in an Indian forest.

  • The Ursus ursinus is often found in forested areas.

  • Did you know that the Ursus ursinus primarily feeds on fruits?

  • The Ursus ursinus is distinguishable by its shaggy black coat and white chest patch.

  • Wildlife researchers observed a group of Ursus ursinus in an Indian forest.

  • The diet of Ursus ursinus primarily consists of insects, especially termites and ants.

Synonyms

sloth bear
vsUrsus ursinus
  • Indian
8.1

A large, hairy bear from south-central Asia that eats ants and termites

is the general species label not focused on appearance or diet
Melursus ursinus
vsUrsus ursinus
  • Specialized
9.9

A large bear with a long snout and shaggy fur from south central Asia

is the common name used in everyday speech rather than formal labeling

Surface Forms

Ursus ursinus main

Morphology

Ursus + ursinus

This is a Latin binomial species name (taxonomic PROPN) rather than an ordinary English phrase; its meaning depends on biological nomenclature, not compositional everyday English. Even if a learner recognises 'Ursus' as related to bears, the form 'ursinus' and the taxonomic convention are not transparently interpretable by an average B1 learner, so the overall meaning ('sloth bear') is not derivable from the parts.

Etymology

The name Ursus ursinus may come from Latin: ursus meaning 'bear' and ursinus meaning 'bear-like'. So the name is like saying 'bear-like bear', a simple picture to help you remember it refers to the sloth bear, the shaggy, long-snouted bear that eats insects.