tailless tenrec
- noun
- Specialized
:
tenrec sin cola
- The tailless tenrec often forages at night, searching for earthworms in the forest floor.
Examples
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The tailless tenrec is known for its ability to produce large litters, making it a remarkable species in Madagascar.
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Unlike other mammals in its habitat, the tailless tenrec has a rounded shape and no visible tail.
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Researchers observed a tailless tenrec digging vigorously in the moist soil of Madagascar.
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The tailless tenrec is unique to Madagascar.
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Many tailless tenrecs can be found in the wild.
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While exploring Madagascar, we encountered a tailless tenrec hunting for earthworms in the underbrush.
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The tailless tenrec plays an important role in the ecosystem by controlling the earthworm population in its habitat.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A small spiny animal from Madagascar that looks like a hedgehog
A small mammal from Madagascar that eats earthworms and breeds quickly
A small spiny animal from Madagascar that eats insects and looks like a hedgehog
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'tailless' (without a tail) modifying 'tenrec' (a small mammal), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it denotes a tenrec species lacking a tail. This follows the standard adjective+noun pattern common across languages and is thus immediately comprehensible to B1 learners familiar with the component words.
Etymology
Tailless tenrec is a simple descriptive name: tailless means 'without a tail' and tenrec is a small mammal from Madagascar. So the name helps you remember it is a tenrec species that really has no visible tail and often forages for earthworms.