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Glite Dictionary
Cystophora cristata

Cystophora cristata

9.9
A medium-sized grey seal with a large air sac on its head that lives in Arctic seas
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Cystophora cristata
  • The Cystophora cristata is known for the male's distinctive inflatable nasal sac.

Examples

  • The Cystophora cristata faces threats from climate change and sealing in some regions.

  • Marine biologists have tracked the migration patterns of Cystophora cristata between Greenland and Canada.

  • The Cystophora cristata is known for its distinctive hood.

  • Many scientists study the Cystophora cristata in the Arctic.

  • Marine biologists have tracked the migration patterns of Cystophora cristata between Greenland and Canada.

  • The Cystophora cristata faces threats from climate change and sealing in some regions.

  • The Cystophora cristata is known for the male's distinctive inflatable nasal sac.

Synonyms

bladdernose
vsCystophora cristata
  • UK
9.9

A medium-sized dark grey seal with a large inflatable nose sac that lives in Arctic and northern Atlantic waters

is the scientific Latin name used in biology rather than everyday speech
hooded seal
vsCystophora cristata
  • US
7.7

A medium-sized seal in Arctic waters with a large inflatable bag on its nose

is the scientific Latin name used in biology rather than everyday speech

Surface Forms

Cystophora cristata singular
Cystophora cristatas plural

Morphology

Cystophora + cristata

This is a Latin binomial (scientific) name and functions as a proper noun rather than an English compositional phrase; the species epithet 'cristata' is not given as an English word here and would be unknown to a B1 learner. Knowing the genus label alone does not allow a learner to infer the common-name meaning 'hooded seal' because taxonomic Latin forms and names do not follow everyday English composition patterns, so the meaning is not derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Cystophora cristata comes from old Greek and Latin words that describe the seal: cysto- means a 'bladder' or inflatable sac and cristata means 'crested' or ridged. That's why the name fits the hooded seal, known for its big inflatable nose sac and crest-like head.