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Glite Dictionary
Phrynosoma cornutum

Phrynosoma cornutum

9.9
A spiny horned lizard that lives in dry parts of Texas and nearby states
  • noun
  • /ˌfrɪnəˈsoʊmə kɔrˈnuːtəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Phrynosoma cornutum
  • The Phrynosoma cornutum blends into desert landscapes thanks to its sandy coloration.

Examples

  • Wildlife researchers are tracking the population of Phrynosoma cornutum in western Texas.

  • Many Texans know the Phrynosoma cornutum as the state reptile and a symbol of local heritage.

  • The Phrynosoma cornutum is often found in sandy deserts.

  • Have you ever seen a Phrynosoma cornutum in the wild?

  • Many Texans know the Phrynosoma cornutum as the state reptile and a symbol of local heritage.

  • The Phrynosoma cornutum blends into desert landscapes thanks to its sandy coloration.

  • Wildlife researchers are tracking the population of Phrynosoma cornutum in western Texas.

Synonyms

Texas horned lizard
vsPhrynosoma cornutum
  • US
8.0

A small spiky lizard with horns and a flat body from dry areas in the southwestern United States

has a spiny body rather than a flat shape

Surface Forms

Phrynosoma cornutum singular
Phrynosoma cornutums plural

Morphology

Phrynosoma + cornutum

This is a Latin binomial (a taxonomic proper name) rather than a normal English compositional phrase; 'Phrynosoma' is a genus label and 'cornutum' is an untranslated Latin adjective not found in the learner dictionary. Because one constituent is not an English word and the overall label is a specialized species name, a B1 learner who knows the listed items would not be able to derive the meaning 'horned lizard' from the parts.

Etymology

Phrynosoma cornutum comes from old Greek and Latin words that mean 'toad body' and 'horned', because the lizard looks a little like a toad and has horn-like scales on its head. So the name fits this horned lizard found in dry parts of the southern United States.