Ectopistes migratorius
- noun
- Specialized
:
Ectopistes migratorius
- The vast flocks of Ectopistes migratorius once darkened the skies of eastern North America.
Examples
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The last known Ectopistes migratorius, named Martha, died in Cincinnati Zoo in 1914.
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The Ectopistes migratorius was once a common sight in North America.
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Research into Ectopistes migratorius highlights the devastating impact of human hunting on wildlife.
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Did you know that the Ectopistes migratorius could fly at high speeds?
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The last known Ectopistes migratorius, named Martha, died in Cincinnati Zoo in 1914.
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The vast flocks of Ectopistes migratorius once darkened the skies of eastern North America.
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The Ectopistes migratorius was known for its long migrations and immense numbers.
Synonyms
1
9.5
A large North American pigeon that lived in huge flocks but is now extinct
Surface Forms
Morphology
Ectopistes + migratorius
This is a Latin binomial (taxonomic) name rather than a standard English phrase; 'Ectopistes' is a genus label and 'migratorius' is not given in the dictionary, so a B1 learner who knows the listed constituents would not reliably infer the referent. Even if a learner guessed 'migratorius' relates to 'migrate', that might suggest a 'migratory pigeon' but would not yield the specific sense 'passenger pigeon' (nor its extinction), so the meaning is not transparently derivable.
Etymology
The scientific name Ectopistes migratorius comes from old Greek and Latin words like Ectopistes and migratorius that mean a travelling pigeon. People used this name because the birds flew in huge flocks and moved long distances, so the name points to the 'passenger pigeon', a once-common migratory bird that is now extinct.