Ornithorhynchus anatinus
- noun
- Australian
:
Ornithorhynchus anatinus
- The Ornithorhynchus anatinus, commonly known as the platypus, is native to Australia and is known for its unique bill.
Examples
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The Ornithorhynchus anatinus is easily recognized by its duck-bill and webbed feet.
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Did you know that the Ornithorhynchus anatinus lays eggs?
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Because of its unique features, Ornithorhynchus anatinus has long fascinated biologists.
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Scientists studied the habitat of Ornithorhynchus anatinus in Tasmanian rivers.
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The Ornithorhynchus anatinus is a fascinating creature.
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Researchers have discovered new behaviors of the Ornithorhynchus anatinus in its natural habitat.
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You can spot an Ornithorhynchus anatinus by its distinctive features like webbed feet and a broad bill.
Synonyms
15
5.8
A small Australian mammal that lays eggs and has a duck-like bill, webbed feet, and a flat tail
1
7.2
A mammal from Australia that lays eggs and has a duck-like bill and webbed feet
1
7.3
A small egg-laying mammal with a broad bill and webbed feet
A small Australian mammal with thick fur, webbed feet, and a broad flat bill that lays eggs
Surface Forms
Morphology
Ornithorhynchus + anatinus
This is a Latin scientific binomial (genus + species). Even if a learner knows 'Ornithorhynchus' as a genus of monotremes, the species epithet 'anatinus' is not a common English word (not found in the dictionary) and the label functions as an arbitrary taxonomic name rather than a compositional phrase, so a B1 learner would not be able to derive 'platypus' from the parts.
Etymology
Ornithorhynchus anatinus comes from Greek ornitho- ('bird') + rhynchus ('snout') and Latin anatinus ('duck-like'). So the name gives a simple picture of the animal: a creature with a bird-like snout and a duck-like bill, which is why it is the scientific name for the platypus.