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Glite Dictionary
Hyaena hyaena

Hyaena hyaena

9.9
A medium-sized meat-eating animal with stripes that lives in northern Africa, Arabia, and India
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : hiena rayada
  • Unlike other hyena species, Hyaena hyaena has a striped coat and a more solitary lifestyle.

Examples

  • The Hyaena hyaena is primarily nocturnal and rarely seen during the day.

  • The Hyaena hyaena is known for its distinctive striped coat.

  • Researchers observed several Hyaena hyaena near the edge of the desert in India.

  • Many people are unaware of the Hyaena hyaena and its habitat.

  • Researchers observed several Hyaena hyaena near the edge of the desert in India.

  • The Hyaena hyaena is primarily nocturnal and rarely seen during the day.

  • Unlike other hyena species, Hyaena hyaena has a striped coat and a more solitary lifestyle.

Synonyms

striped hyena
vsHyaena hyaena
6.7

A medium-sized wild animal with sandy gray fur and black stripes that lives in Africa, Arabia and India

is the Latin scientific name used in formal classification

Surface Forms

Hyaena hyaena singular
Hyaena hyaenas plural

Morphology

hyaena + hyaena

This is a Latin binomial composed of the common noun 'hyaena' repeated. A B1 learner who knows 'hyaena' will likely infer the phrase refers to a hyena (so there is some transparent link), but they will not be able to derive that it is specifically the scientific name for the striped hyena or understand the taxonomic convention from the words alone. Because the form signals a conventional scientific label rather than a compositional English phrase, the item is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Hyaena hyaena is a scientific name that repeats the same word twice — scientists often do this to show the 'typical' or 'true' form of an animal. So the repeated name helps you remember it refers to the striped hyena, the main hyena species with a striped coat and night habits.