Manta birostris
- noun
- Specialized
:
Manta birostris
- The Manta birostris is known for its enormous size and graceful movements in the open ocean.
Examples
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Divers were thrilled to observe a majestic Manta birostris gliding silently over the reef.
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Conservationists are working to protect Manta birostris from threats like overfishing and habitat loss.
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The Manta birostris is the largest species of manta ray.
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Have you ever seen a Manta birostris in the wild?
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Divers were thrilled to observe a majestic Manta birostris gliding silently over the reef.
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The Manta birostris is known for its enormous size and graceful movements in the open ocean.
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Conservationists are working to protect Manta birostris from threats like overfishing and habitat loss.
Synonyms
5
7.2
A very large flat sea animal with wide triangular fins that swims and eats tiny sea animals
2
4.8
A very large sea animal with wide triangle-shaped fins that eats tiny sea plants and animals
A very large sea animal with a flat body and wide fins that lives in warm Atlantic waters
Surface Forms
Morphology
manta + birostris
The first constituent 'manta' clearly identifies the referent as a manta ray, so a learner who knows that word will infer the expression denotes a type of manta. However, 'birostris' is a Latin specific epithet (not a normal English word and marked as not found in the dictionary), so the precise sense or distinguishing features cannot be derived from the parts without specialized knowledge of taxonomic naming. Because the genus gives a clear category but the species element is opaque to an average B1 learner, the overall expression is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Manta birostris comes from the word manta, a Spanish word for 'cloak', and birostris, from Latin for 'two beaks'. The ray looks like a large floating cloak and has two flaps near its mouth that look like little beaks, so the name fits this very large manta ray.