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Glite Dictionary
lowland burrowing treefrog

lowland burrowing treefrog

9.9
A land frog that digs burrows and calls at night in dry grasslands with a very hard head
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : rana de árbol de tierras bajas
  • After a heavy rain, the lowland burrowing treefrog emerges from its burrow to hunt for insects.

Examples

  • The lowland burrowing treefrog is often heard calling after summer rains in Arizona.

  • We spotted two lowland burrowing treefrogs near the edge of the grassy field last night.

  • Biologists are studying how the lowland burrowing treefrog survives in arid environments.

  • The lowland burrowing treefrog is a fascinating species.

  • Many lowland burrowing treefrogs live in the scrub forests.

  • The lowland burrowing treefrog can often be seen nestled among the grasses during the night.

  • In the southwestern United States, the lowland burrowing treefrog is known for its distinctive croaking sounds at night.

Synonyms

Pternohyla fodiens
vslowland burrowing treefrog
  • Specialized
9.9

A burrowing frog active at night with a hard head that lives in southwestern United States grassy areas

is the common descriptive name for the same animal rather than the scientific label
northern casque-headed frog
vslowland burrowing treefrog
  • US
9.9

A land frog that digs and lives underground at night with a hard head

is another regional common name for the same animal with matching habitat and traits

Surface Forms

lowland burrowing treefrog singular
lowland burrowing treefrogs plural

Morphology

lowland + burrow + treefrog

The phrase is a straightforward descriptive compound: 'lowland' (in low-elevation areas) + 'burrowing' (digging/moving by making tunnels) + 'treefrog' (a frog associated with trees, itself transparently tree + frog). A B1 learner who knows the constituent words can readily infer this denotes a type of frog found in lowlands that burrows and is classified as a treefrog, so the meaning is compositional and predictable.

Etymology

Lowland burrowing treefrog gives a simple picture: lowland shows it lives in low, flat areas, burrowing means it 'digs' into the ground, and treefrog shows it is a type of treefrog. It has a very hard top of the head that it uses like a 'shovel' or a 'plug' when it digs or blocks its hole, so the name reminds you it is a ground-digging frog with a hard head.