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Glite Dictionary
Malaclemys centrata

Malaclemys centrata

9.9
A small turtle with a diamond-patterned shell that lives in coastal marshes on United States coasts
  • noun
  • /ˌmæl.əˈklɛm.ɪs ˈsɛn.trə.tə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Malaclemys centrata
  • Researchers observed the nesting behavior of Malaclemys centrata in coastal marshes.

Examples

  • The Malaclemys centrata is often found in coastal marshes.

  • The Malaclemys centrata is valued for its distinctive diamond-patterned shell.

  • Conservationists have made efforts to protect Malaclemys centrata from habitat loss and overharvesting.

  • Have you seen a Malaclemys centrata in the wild?

  • Conservationists have made efforts to protect Malaclemys centrata from habitat loss and overharvesting.

  • Researchers observed the nesting behavior of Malaclemys centrata in coastal marshes.

  • The Malaclemys centrata is valued for its distinctive diamond-patterned shell.

Synonyms

diamondback terrapin
vsMalaclemys centrata
  • US
1 8.8

A North American turtle with diamond marks on its shell that lives in salty marshes

uses the formal scientific name rather than the common name

Surface Forms

Malaclemys centrata singular
Malaclemys centrate singular

Morphology

Malaclemys + centrata

This is a Latin scientific binomial functioning as a proper name for a turtle species; its meaning is an arbitrary taxonomic label rather than a compositional phrase. Knowing the genus name 'Malaclemys' (even if familiar) and the opaque element 'centrata' does not allow a B1 learner to derive the species meaning, so it is not transparently interpretable across languages.

Etymology

Malaclemys centrata may come from words scientists used to describe the turtle's shell: Malaclemys for the turtle and centrata for the 'diamond' marks in the middle of the shell. So the name points to this turtle, the 'diamondback terrapin'.