Skip to main content
neotropical

neotropical

1 7.7
A plant or animal from the tropical parts of the Americas
  • noun
  • /ˌniːəˈtrɒpɪkəl/
  • Specialized
: neotropical
  • The neotropical rainforest is home to countless species.

Examples

  • Scientists documented several rare neotropicals during the month-long rainforest survey across northern Brazil.

  • Many neotropicals have adapted to the unique climate of the Amazon basin.

  • The zoo recently acquired a collection of neotropicals to educate visitors about biodiversity.

  • Many neotropical birds migrate during the winter months.

  • Many researchers study the diverse flora and fauna of neotropical species found in Central America.

  • The neotropical butterfly is known for its vibrant colors and unique patterns.

  • In the rainforest, a variety of neotropicals can be observed thriving in their natural habitat.

Surface Forms

neotropical singular
neotropicals plural

Morphology

neotropical = tropical (semi-transparent) = neo + tropic + al

The word is transparently built on 'tropical' with the prefix 'neo-', but the specific biogeographical sense is specialized rather than fully compositional.

Etymology

Neotropical is made from neo- ('new') and tropical ('tropical') and is used as a noun for a plant or animal from the tropical parts of the Americas, so a neotropical is a species that comes from those American tropics.