Dermochelyidae
- noun
- /ˌdɜrməˈkiːliˌaɪdi/
- Specialized
- The Dermochelyidae family includes the remarkable leatherback turtle.
Examples
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Unlike other sea turtles, members of the Dermochelyidae have leathery rather than hard shells.
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Scientists are studying migration patterns within the Dermochelyidae to better protect these endangered turtles.
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The Dermochelyidae family includes the largest species of sea turtles.
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Did you know that Dermochelyidae can dive to great depths?
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The leatherback sea turtle, a member of the family Dermochelyidae, can dive deeper than any other marine creature.
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Scientists study the Dermochelyidae family to understand how leatherback turtles adapt to their ocean environments.
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Conservation efforts are crucial for protecting the Dermochelyidae, as leatherback sea turtles are endangered worldwide.
Synonyms
Large sea turtles with soft, flexible shells, including leatherbacks
Compounds
- Specialized
Large sea turtles with soft, flexible shells, including leatherbacks
Surface Forms
Morphology
Dermochelyidae = Dermochelys (opaque) = dermo + chely + idae
The name is a technical taxonomic formation from classical combining forms and the family suffix '-idae', which is not transparent to average learners.
Etymology
Dermochelyidae comes from Greek parts: dermo- meaning 'skin' and chely- meaning 'turtle', with -idae showing 'family'. So Dermochelyidae literally means 'skin-turtle family', which helps explain why these are the leatherback sea turtles with a soft, skin-like shell.