southern bog lemming

9.9

A small mouse-like animal that lives in wet bogs and meadows in North America

noun
/ˈsʌðərn bɔg ˈlɛmɪŋ/

: lemming de pantano del sur

The southern bog lemming is rarely seen because it hides in dense grasses and moss.

Examples

Several conservation efforts aim to protect the habitat of the southern bog lemming.
The southern bog lemming is often found in wetland areas.
Researchers observed a southern bog lemming in the marsh for the first time in years.
Many southern bog lemmings inhabit the marshes of New York.
Researchers observed a southern bog lemming in the marsh for the first time in years.
The southern bog lemming is rarely seen because it hides in dense grasses and moss.
Several conservation efforts aim to protect the habitat of the southern bog lemming.

Synonyms

Synaptomys cooperi

vssouthern bog lemming

Specialized

9.9

A small North American animal like a mouse that lives in wet grassy places such as bogs and meadows

is the common everyday name rather than the scientific term

Surface Forms

southern bog lemming singular

southern bog lemmings plural

Morphology

southern + bog + lemming

The phrase is a straightforward descriptive compound: 'southern' (location) + 'bog' (habitat) + 'lemming' (small rodent), so the referent — a lemming species living in southern bogs — is directly derivable from the parts. This kind of taxonomic/location-based naming is compositional and cross-linguistically common, making it immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.

Etymology

Southern bog lemming simply describes the animal: southern shows the part of the area where it lives, bog is a wet place of grass and moss, and lemming is a small rodent. So the name points to 'a small rodent that lives in wet bogs and meadows in the southern areas where it is found', which makes the meaning easy to remember.