Cygnus atratus
- noun
- Australian
:
Cygnus atratus
- Compared to other swans, Cygnus atratus has a distinctive red bill and black plumage.
Examples
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The Cygnus atratus is native to Australia and is easily recognized by its striking black feathers.
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Researchers observed a flock of Cygnus atratus near the wetlands during their migration season.
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The Cygnus atratus is known for its striking black feathers.
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Have you ever seen a Cygnus atratus in the wild?
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The Cygnus atratus, also known as the black swan, glided gracefully across the lake.
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In Australia, the Cygnus atratus is often found in wetlands where it feeds on aquatic plants.
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During our trip to Australia, we were excited to spot a Cygnus atratus with its striking black plumage.
Synonyms
A large Australian swan with black feathers and a red bill
Surface Forms
Morphology
Cygnus + atratus
The binomial is compositionally built: 'Cygnus' denotes a swan genus and the specific epithet functions descriptively, so if a learner knows both constituents they can infer a swan with the described trait (here, black plumage). However, the epithet 'atratus' is Latin and absent from the provided dictionary entry, so typical B1 learners would not know it without explicit explanation — under the stated condition (knowing both words) the meaning is transparent, though in practice it may be unfamiliar.
Etymology
Cygnus atratus is the scientific name for the Australian 'black swan'; Cygnus means swan and atratus points to its black feathers and bright red bill. Imagine a large black swan gliding on a lake — that picture helps you remember that this name refers to that specific species.
