genus Delphinus
- noun
- /ˈdʌlfɪnəs/
- Specialized
- The genus Delphinus includes several species of dolphins.
Examples
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The genus Delphinus includes the well-known common dolphin.
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Taxonomic revisions have altered the classification within the genus Delphinus.
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Marine biologists have long studied the genus Delphinus to understand dolphin behavior.
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Did you know that genus Delphinus is part of the family Delphinidae?
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Marine biologists have long studied the genus Delphinus to understand dolphin behavior.
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The genus Delphinus includes the well-known common dolphin.
-
Taxonomic revisions have altered the classification within the genus Delphinus.
Synonyms
A group of small sea animals that swim and breathe air like the common dolphin
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'genus' (a biological rank) combined with the proper name 'Delphinus' denotes the taxonomic genus called Delphinus. This pattern (rank + taxon name) is cross-linguistically regular and therefore a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand the phrase.
Etymology
The name genus Delphinus comes from the Latin word Delphinus, which itself comes from Greek for 'dolphin'. Early scientists used Delphinus to name a group, called 'genus', of similar common dolphins, so today genus Delphinus means that group.