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Glite Dictionary
Macaca sylvana

Macaca sylvana

9.9
A monkey without a tail that lives on cliffs and in forests in northwest Africa and Gibraltar
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : Macaca sylvana
  • Researchers observed a group of Macaca sylvana interacting near the famous cliffs of Gibraltar.

Examples

  • The Macaca sylvana is the only species of macaque found in Europe.

  • In northwestern Africa, the Macaca sylvana thrives in rocky habitats.

  • Conservation efforts are underway to protect Macaca sylvana from habitat loss.

  • The Macaca sylvana is often seen in the forests of Gibraltar.

  • In northwestern Africa, the Macaca sylvana can often be spotted climbing rocky cliffs.

  • The Macaca sylvana was observed foraging for food in the forests of Gibraltar.

  • Efforts to conserve the Macaca sylvana include protecting its natural habitat from deforestation.

Synonyms

Barbary ape
vsMacaca sylvana
  • UK
1 8.9

A monkey without a tail that lives on rocky cliffs and in forests of northwest Africa and Gibraltar

has identical meaning but uses the scientific Latin name

Surface Forms

Macaca sylvana singular
Macaca sylvanas plural

Morphology

Macaca + sylvana

This is a Latin binomial combining the genus name 'Macaca' (macaque) with a species epithet derived from Latin 'sylvan/‑a' meaning 'of the woods'. If a learner knows both constituents and recognises the Latinate root, the meaning 'woodland macaque' is derivable, but in practice the species epithet is rare and scientific names are not part of everyday vocabulary for B1 learners, so the relation is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Macaca sylvana comes from older words: Macaca is a word for 'monkey' and sylvana comes from Latin for 'forest'. So the name literally says 'forest monkey', a simple image that fits this tailless macaque living on rocky cliffs and in woods in northwest Africa and Gibraltar.