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Glite Dictionary
genus Coluber

genus Coluber

9.5
A group of thin, fast snakes called racers that are usually harmless to people
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒɛnəs ˈkoʊlʊbər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : género Coluber
  • The genus Coluber includes several species of nonvenomous racers found throughout the world.

Examples

  • Many harmless snakes in North America belong to the genus Coluber.

  • The genus Coluber includes several species of racers.

  • Scientists studying the genus Coluber have catalogued their swift movements and slender bodies.

  • Did you know that the genus Coluber is known for its speed?

  • Many harmless snakes in North America belong to the genus Coluber.

  • The genus Coluber includes several species of nonvenomous racers found throughout the world.

  • Scientists studying the genus Coluber have catalogued their swift movements and slender bodies.

Synonyms

Coluber
vsgenus Coluber
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of not poisonous snakes often called racers

focuses on fast slender build and family membership rather than geographic distribution

Surface Forms

genus Coluber singular
genera Coluber plural

Morphology

genus + Coluber

The phrase is fully compositional: 'genus' names a taxonomic rank and 'Coluber' is the proper name of that genus, so 'genus Coluber' straightforwardly means the genus called Coluber (a group of racers). This genus+name pattern is standard in biological nomenclature and is cross-linguistically familiar, so a learner who knows both constituents will readily understand the meaning.

Etymology

Genus Coluber comes from Latin: genus means a group of animals and Coluber was the old Latin word for a 'snake'. Scientists used those Latin words to name a group of fast, thin 'snakes' now often called 'racers', so today the term refers to that group of quick, not poisonous snakes.