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Glite Dictionary
genus Meriones

genus Meriones

9.9
A group of small rodents like jirds that live in dry areas
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : género Meriones
  • The genus Meriones includes several species of desert-dwelling rodents known as jirds.

Examples

  • The genus Meriones includes several species of jirds.

  • Biologists have identified numerous adaptations in the genus Meriones for surviving arid environments.

  • Research on the genus Meriones has contributed to our understanding of rodent evolution in Asia.

  • Did you know that genus Meriones is native to Asia?

  • Researchers are studying the genus Meriones to learn more about its role in desert ecosystems.

  • The genus Meriones consists of small rodents that thrive in dry, sandy habitats.

  • Many animals in the genus Meriones display unique adaptations to survive extreme heat.

Synonyms

Meriones
vsgenus Meriones
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of small animals like mice called jirds that live in Asia and North Africa

is the same group but does not state native range

Surface Forms

genus Meriones singular
genera Meriones plural

Morphology

genus + Meriones

The phrase is fully compositional: 'genus' indicates a taxonomic rank and 'Meriones' is the name of a group of rodents, so together they mean the taxonomic genus comprising species called Meriones. This genus + taxon-name pattern is standard in biology and cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Genus Meriones uses the old name Meriones, a name from ancient Greek stories, as a simple label for a 'group' of similar rodents. So genus Meriones means the group of desert rodents called 'jirds' that are closely related.