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Glite Dictionary
Crotalus lepidus

Crotalus lepidus

9.9
A small rock rattlesnake that lives in Mexico and the southern United States
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Crotalus lepidus
  • Researchers observed a Crotalus lepidus basking on a sunlit ledge.

Examples

  • The Crotalus lepidus is well adapted to rocky mountainous habitats.

  • Venom from the Crotalus lepidus is less potent than that of some larger rattlesnakes.

  • The Crotalus lepidus is often found in rocky areas.

  • Have you ever seen a Crotalus lepidus in the wild?

  • Researchers observed a Crotalus lepidus basking on a sunlit ledge.

  • The Crotalus lepidus is well adapted to rocky mountainous habitats.

  • Venom from the Crotalus lepidus is less potent than that of some larger rattlesnakes.

Synonyms

rock rattlesnake
vsCrotalus lepidus
  • US
8.1

A venomous snake that lives among rocks in the southwestern United States and Mexico

is the formal scientific name used by scientists

Surface Forms

Crotalus lepidus singular
Crotalus lepidus plural

Morphology

Crotalus + lepidus

This is a Linnaean binomial: the genus name 'Crotalus' denotes rattlesnakes, so the combination signals 'a species of Crotalus' and a learner who knows the genus can infer it refers to a kind of rattlesnake. However, the specific epithet 'lepidus' is a Latin word not transparent to average B1 learners and does not yield a clear everyday meaning, so the full referent is only partially predictable.

Etymology

Crotalus lepidus comes from old words that paint a clear picture: Crotalus comes from a Greek word for 'rattle', because the snake shakes its tail, and lepidus is a Latin word meaning 'charming' or 'elegant', likely for its small, pretty scales, so the name points to a small, attractive 'rattlesnake'.