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Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus

Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus

9.9
A small monkey with a black face and hands that lives in southern Africa
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus
  • The distinctive black face of the Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus makes it easy to identify.

Examples

  • The Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus is commonly seen near rivers in southern Africa.

  • Researchers observed a group of Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus foraging in the savannah.

  • The Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus is known for its distinctive black face.

  • Many tourists are fascinated by the Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus in South Africa.

  • Researchers observed a group of Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus foraging in the savannah.

  • The Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus is commonly seen near rivers in southern Africa.

  • The distinctive black face of the Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus makes it easy to identify.

Synonyms

vervet
vsCercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus
  • South African
1 8.3

A medium-sized African monkey with a black face and hands and a grey body that lives on the savanna

is a narrower subspecies limited to southern populations rather than all Africa
vervet monkey
vsCercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus
  • South African
7.0

A small African monkey with a black face and hands that lives in woods and grassland

is a particular subspecies restricted to southern Africa rather than the whole species

Surface Forms

Morphology

Cercopithecus + aethiops + pygerythrus

The string is a scientific taxonomic name built from genus + species + subspecies: knowing 'Cercopithecus' (a genus of guenons) lets a learner infer this refers to a type of monkey, so part of the meaning is compositional. However, the specific epithets ('aethiops', 'pygerythrus') are arbitrary Latin identifiers that do not transparently convey the distinctive traits (e.g. black face), so the full, precise meaning is not predictable from the parts.

Etymology

The name Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus comes from old words: Cercopithecus means 'tail', aethiops means 'dark face', and pygerythrus means 'red rump'. This picture of a tailed, dark-faced, partly red monkey helps you remember it is the small vervet monkey with a 'black face and hands'.