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Glite Dictionary
Callisaurus draconoides

Callisaurus draconoides

9.9
A fast, long-legged desert lizard with a black-banded tail from the southwest United States and Mexico
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Callisaurus draconoides
  • Researchers observed a Callisaurus draconoides basking on a sunlit rock.

Examples

  • The Callisaurus draconoides is well adapted to the arid landscapes of the southwestern United States.

  • Because of its speed and agility, the Callisaurus draconoides easily escapes predators in the desert.

  • The Callisaurus draconoides is known for its speed.

  • Look at that Callisaurus draconoides running across the sand!

  • Researchers observed a Callisaurus draconoides basking on a sunlit rock.

  • Because of its speed and agility, the Callisaurus draconoides easily escapes predators in the desert.

  • The Callisaurus draconoides is well adapted to the arid landscapes of the southwestern United States.

Synonyms

zebra-tailed lizard
vsCallisaurus draconoides
  • US
9.4

A fast desert lizard with a long black-banded tail and long legs

is the same species but uses an alternate common name
gridiron-tailed lizard
vsCallisaurus draconoides
  • US
9.9

A fast desert lizard with a long black-banded tail that lives in the United States and Mexico

is the same species but refers to a different common name

Surface Forms

Callisaurus draconoides singular
Callisaurus draconoides plural

Morphology

Callisaurus + draconoides

This is a scientific Latin binomial (a genus + species epithet) used as a proper name for a lizard; its referential meaning (the specific species) cannot be derived compositionally by a B1 learner from the constituent forms. The second element 'draconoides' is not a common English word (and its Latin roots would be unknown to B1 learners), so the overall expression is effectively idiomatic/specific rather than transparently built from familiar English vocabulary.

Etymology

Callisaurus draconoides comes from Greek words that mean 'beautiful lizard' for Callisaurus and 'dragon-like' for draconoides. So the name paints a picture of a small, fast desert lizard with long legs and a black-banded tail, a 'little dragon', which makes it easier to remember.