whiptail lizard
- noun
- /ˈwɪpˌteɪl ˈlɪzərd/
- US
:
lagarto látigo
- I spotted a whiptail lizard in my backyard yesterday.
Examples
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The whiptail lizard is known for its quick movements and ability to escape predators.
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The whiptail lizard darted across the rocky desert floor at remarkable speed.
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Many whiptail lizards can reproduce without males through a process called parthenogenesis.
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Scientists studying the whiptail lizard have discovered unique social behaviors among the females.
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The whiptail lizard darted across the sandy ground.
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In the warm desert sun, a whiptail lizard dashed across the sandy ground.
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The bright colors of the whiptail lizard make it easy to spot among the rocks.
Synonyms
103
1.0
A small animal with scaly skin, four legs, and a long tail
A slim active lizard with a long thin tail like a whip
A tropical reptile from the Americas with a long tail and large belly scales
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is fully descriptive and compositional: 'whiptail' denotes a type of lizard characterized by a long, slender tail and 'lizard' is the general animal class, so the meaning follows directly from the parts. This kind of morphological naming of animals is cross-linguistically common and would be immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.
Etymology
Whiptail lizard comes from the animal's very long, thin tail that moves like a whip when it runs. So, the name refers to a small, fast lizard known for its whip-like tail.