pygmy sperm whale
- noun
- /ˈpɪɡmi spɜrm weɪl/
:
ballena esperma enana
- The stranded pygmy sperm whale was rescued by marine biologists and released into deeper water.
Examples
-
Unlike its larger cousin, the pygmy sperm whale is rarely seen at the ocean surface.
-
Scientists recently discovered new information about the diet of the elusive pygmy sperm whale.
-
The pygmy sperm whale is one of the smallest cetaceans.
-
Have you ever seen a pygmy sperm whale?
-
Marine biologists observed a pygmy sperm whale swimming gracefully near the coast of Florida.
-
The pygmy sperm whale is known for its distinctive rounded head and small size.
-
Researchers are studying the migratory patterns of the pygmy sperm whale in the Pacific Ocean.
Synonyms
A small whale with a short blunt head that lives in warm ocean waters
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally built: 'pygmy' (small) modifies a type of 'whale', so a learner who recognises 'pygmy' and 'whale' can infer it denotes a small whale species. However, 'sperm' here is part of the lexicalized name 'sperm whale' and its relation to the common meaning 'sperm' (reproductive cell) is not transparent, so learners who have not seen 'sperm whale' before may be uncertain.
Etymology
Pygmy sperm whale comes from two parts: pygmy meaning very small and sperm whale, a name sailors gave to a larger whale because of a waxy oil in its head they once thought was 'sperm'. So the name simply means a small kind of sperm whale.
