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Glite Dictionary
genus Fossa

genus Fossa

9.9
A group of meat-eating mammals with only one species, the fossa, from Madagascar
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒɛnəs ˈfɑsə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : género Fossa
  • The genus Fossa includes only one species, the fossa, native to Madagascar.

Examples

  • Unlike other civets, the genus Fossa is limited to a single representative species.

  • The genus Fossa is unique to Madagascar.

  • Scientists have studied the unique evolutionary adaptations of the genus Fossa in the forests of Madagascar.

  • Did you know that the genus Fossa includes only one species?

  • Scientists have studied the unique evolutionary adaptations of the genus Fossa in the forests of Madagascar.

  • The genus Fossa includes only one species, the fossa, which is native to Madagascar.

  • Unlike other civets, the genus Fossa is known for having just a single representative species.

Synonyms

Cryptoprocta
vsgenus Fossa
  • Specialized
9.9

A large cat-like meat-eating animal from Madagascar called the fossa

is limited to a single species rather than several

Surface Forms

genus Fossa singular
genera Fossa plural

Morphology

genus + fossa

The phrase denotes the taxonomic genus named after the animal 'fossa' and is directly interpretable by combining 'genus' (a biological rank) with 'fossa' (the animal name). Taxonomic constructions of the form 'genus X' are cross-linguistically common and follow a standard compositional pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Genus Fossa gets its name from the Malagasy word 'fosa' for the animal. Early scientists used that local name as the scientific name Fossa, so genus Fossa means the scientific group that contains 'only one species', the fossa of Madagascar.