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Glite Dictionary
genus Lama

genus Lama

8.4
A group of South American animals like the llama and alpaca that are closely related
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒiːnəs ˈlɑːmə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : género Lama
  • The genus Lama includes four species of South American camelids.

Examples

  • Alpacas, members of the genus Lama, have been domesticated for thousands of years.

  • Did you know that the genus Lama contains the llama and alpaca?

  • Scientists conducted a study on all animals in the genus Lama.

  • The genus Lama includes several species of South American camelids.

  • The genus Lama includes the famous llama and alpaca, known for their wool.

  • Researchers have discovered new information about the genus Lama and its role in Andean culture.

  • Animals in the genus Lama are well adapted to high-altitude environments in South America.

Surface Forms

genus Lama singular
genera Lama plural

Morphology

genus + Lama

This is a straightforward taxonomic construction: 'genus' denotes a biological rank and 'Lama' is the taxonomic name of that genus. If a learner knows both constituents (even if 'Lama' is a specialized proper name), they can directly infer it denotes the genus called Lama (the group of related species), so the meaning is compositional and predictable.

Etymology

Genus Lama comes from a local word used by people in the Andes for the animal, often written 'llama' in Spanish. Early scientists used that native name as a Latin label, so Lama became the official name for the group of South American camel-like animals such as the llama and the alpaca.