genus Saimiri
- noun
- Specialized
- The genus Saimiri includes several species of squirrel monkeys.
Examples
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Did you know that the genus Saimiri is found in both Central and South America?
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Researchers observed the behavior of the genus Saimiri in its natural rainforest habitat.
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Characteristics of the genus Saimiri distinguish it from other New World monkey genera.
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The genus Saimiri includes several species of squirrel monkeys.
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Researchers observed the behavior of the genus Saimiri in its natural rainforest habitat.
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Did you know that the genus Saimiri is found in both Central and South America?
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Characteristics of the genus Saimiri distinguish it from other New World monkey genera.
Synonyms
A small agile monkey found in forests of Central and South America
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is fully compositional: 'genus' (a taxonomic rank) combined with the proper name 'Saimiri' yields 'the genus called Saimiri', i.e. the taxonomic group of squirrel monkeys. This noun + name construction follows normal, cross-linguistic naming conventions, so a learner who knows both constituents can derive the meaning directly.
Etymology
Genus Saimiri comes from a local South American word 'saimiri' that people used for small tree monkeys. Early scientists borrowed that word and made Saimiri the scientific group name, so genus Saimiri today means the 'squirrel monkey' group from Central and South America.