Pelecanus onocrotalus
- noun
- Specialized
:
pelícano grande
- The Pelecanus onocrotalus can often be seen gliding over lakes in southern Africa.
Examples
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Unlike its American counterpart, the Pelecanus onocrotalus tends to migrate between Europe and Africa.
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Scientists observed a colony of Pelecanus onocrotalus nesting together on the wetland island.
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The Pelecanus onocrotalus is known for its large size.
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Many tourists visit to see the Pelecanus onocrotalus in action.
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The Pelecanus onocrotalus is a majestic bird that can be found in various wetlands across Europe and Africa.
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During the summer months, Pelecanus onocrotalus nests on isolated islands to raise its young.
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Birdwatchers often look for the Pelecanus onocrotalus as it dives gracefully into the water to catch fish.
Synonyms
A large white water bird with a long beak that catches fish in Europe, Asia, and Africa, often in groups
Surface Forms
Morphology
Pelecanus + onocrotalus
The genus name 'Pelecanus' clearly signals a pelican, so a learner who knows that constituent would recognise the referent as a type of pelican. However, the species epithet 'onocrotalus' is a Latin/Greek-derived, non-transparent element for a B1 learner and does not by itself yield the specific meaning 'great white pelican'; scientific binomials are specialist and only partially informative to general learners.
Etymology
Pelecanus onocrotalus may come from old Greek words. One popular story says the second part, onocrotalus, joins onos, meaning 'donkey', and krotalon, a 'rattle' or loud noise, because the pelican's loud, rough call reminded people of a braying donkey, so the name refers to the big white waterbird we know today.
