reef whitetip shark
- noun
- /rif ˈwaɪtˌtɪp ʃɑrk/
- Specialized
:
tiburón de punta blanca de arrecife
- The reef whitetip shark is known for its slender body and distinctive white-tipped fins.
Examples
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Divers commonly encounter the reef whitetip shark resting in coral caves during the day.
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Researchers are studying the behavior of the reef whitetip shark in its natural habitat.
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The reef whitetip shark is known for its distinctive fins.
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Many divers encounter the reef whitetip sharks while exploring coral reefs.
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Divers commonly encounter the reef whitetip shark resting in coral caves during the day.
-
The reef whitetip shark is known for its slender body and distinctive white-tipped fins.
-
Many divers encounter the reef whitetip shark while exploring coral reefs.
How Big
6
3.5
11
2.9
- Specialized
- Specialized
1
8.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is fully compositional: 'reef' indicates the habitat, 'whitetip' signals white-tipped fins, and 'shark' names the animal, so the phrase denotes a shark with white-tipped fins associated with reefs. This follows ordinary noun-compounding patterns found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can infer the meaning.
Etymology
The name reef whitetip shark comes from two simple facts: it lives near coral 'reefs' and it has 'white tips' on its fins. So the name tells you where the shark lives and what it looks like.