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Glite Dictionary
Dicamptodon ensatus

Dicamptodon ensatus

9.9
A large salamander up to 7 inches long found in moist forests and streams in western North America
  • noun
  • Specialized
: Dicamptodon ensatus
  • The Dicamptodon ensatus is often found in moist forest habitats along streams in California.

Examples

  • Researchers observed a population increase of Dicamptodon ensatus in protected reserves.

  • Many field guides include the Dicamptodon ensatus due to its distinctive appearance and size.

  • The Dicamptodon ensatus is found in various freshwater habitats.

  • Have you ever seen a Dicamptodon ensatus in the wild?

  • Many field guides include the Dicamptodon ensatus due to its distinctive appearance and size.

  • Researchers observed a population increase of Dicamptodon ensatus in protected reserves.

  • The Dicamptodon ensatus is often found in moist forest habitats along streams in California.

Synonyms

Pacific giant salamander
vsDicamptodon ensatus
  • Specialized
8.2

A large salamander that lives in western North American forests

gives a precise maximum length of about seven inches not general size

Surface Forms

Dicamptodon ensatus singular
Dicamptodon ensatuses plural

Morphology

Dicamptodon + ensatus

This is a Latin binomial (genus + species) used as a proper name rather than a compositional English phrase; the species epithet 'ensatus' is not an ordinary English word and provides no transparent cue. Even if a learner knows 'Dicamptodon' as a genus, they would not be able to derive the specific meaning (size, habitat, geographic range) from the parts, so the expression is not predictable from its constituents.

Etymology

Dicamptodon ensatus comes from old Greek and Latin words that describe the animal. Dicamptodon may mean 'double-bent tooth' and ensatus means 'sword-shaped', so the name gives a picture of a large salamander with strong, curved teeth and a long, sword-like tail, which helps you remember this species.