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Glite Dictionary
carpet shark

carpet shark

9.2
A shark that lives on the ocean floor and hides by looking like sand or rocks
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : tiburón alfombra
  • The carpet shark is known for its remarkable camouflage abilities on the ocean floor.

Examples

  • Some species of carpet shark are popular attractions in public aquariums.

  • Many divers have spotted carpet sharks off the coast of Australia.

  • Divers spotted a carpet shark resting motionless among the rocks.

  • The carpet shark is known for its unique patterns.

  • The carpet shark hides among the rocks on the ocean floor, waiting for its prey.

  • One fascinating feature of the carpet shark is its ability to blend into its surroundings.

  • In the shallow waters, the carpet shark can often be seen resting motionless on the sand.

Surface Forms

carpet shark singular
carpet sharks plural

Morphology

carpet + shark

The compound is compositionally transparent: 'carpet' modifies 'shark' to indicate a shark characterized by a carpet-like appearance or association with the sea floor, so a learner who knows 'carpet' and 'shark' can infer it denotes a type of shark with that visual/habitat property. This kind of descriptive animal naming (modifier + animal) is common cross-linguistically, making the meaning accessible to B1 learners.

Etymology

Carpet shark comes from the animal's look and habit: these flat, patterned sharks lie on the sea floor like a carpet, which helps them hide. That's why 'carpet shark' means a shark that lives on the sea floor and blends in with the bottom.