genus Crocuta
- noun
- /ˈdʒɛnəs ˈkroʊkʊtə/
- Specialized
- The genus Crocuta is best known for its only living member, the spotted hyena.
Examples
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The genus Crocuta includes the well-known spotted hyena.
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Scientists classified the animal as belonging to the genus Crocuta after a detailed analysis of its skull.
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Fossil records suggest that the genus Crocuta had a much wider distribution in the past.
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Did you know that genus Crocuta is native to Africa?
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The genus Crocuta is most famous for the spotted hyena, known for its unique vocalizations.
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Scientists have identified several fossils from the genus Crocuta, revealing its evolutionary history.
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Researchers study the genus Crocuta to understand more about the behavior of hyenas in the wild.
Synonyms
A group of hyenas that includes the spotted hyena
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is fully compositional: 'genus' (a biological rank) combined with the proper name 'Crocuta' yields the straightforward meaning 'the genus named Crocuta' (a group of related species). Taxonomic naming is a common, cross-linguistic convention, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to understand the MWE.
Etymology
The name genus Crocuta comes from scientific naming: genus means a 'group' of related animals and Crocuta was an old name for hyenas used by early writers. So, genus Crocuta simply means the group that contains the spotted hyena.