Otus sunia
- noun
- Specialized
- The call of the Otus sunia is often heard at dusk in the forests of India.
Examples
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Researchers have noted that Otus sunia feeds primarily on insects and small vertebrates.
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Have you ever seen an Otus sunia in the wild?
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Birdwatchers were thrilled to spot an Otus sunia perched quietly in the bamboo thicket.
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The Otus sunia is known for its distinctive call.
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Birdwatchers were thrilled to spot an Otus sunia perched quietly in the bamboo thicket.
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Researchers have noted that Otus sunia feeds primarily on insects and small vertebrates.
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The call of the Otus sunia is often heard at dusk in the forests of India.
Synonyms
A small Asian owl with a short body and a soft whistling call at night
Surface Forms
Morphology
Otus + sunia
This is a Latin binomial (scientific) name: while 'Otus' indicates a genus of scops owls, the specific epithet 'sunia' has no independent, dictionary meaning. The species identity cannot be derived from ordinary word knowledge and requires taxonomic/specialist knowledge, so it is not predictable for a B1 learner.
Etymology
Otus sunia may come from old words meaning 'ear' and a local word for 'small owl'. The genus name Otus points to the small ear feathers many scops owls have, and sunia may come from a local Asian name, so the whole name tells us it is a small Asian scops owl.