Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Python sebae

Python sebae

9.5
A very large African snake that kills animals by squeezing them
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : pitón sebae
  • The Python sebae can reach lengths of over six meters, making it one of the world's largest snakes.

Examples

  • Despite its size, the Python sebae is known for its powerful constricting abilities when subduing prey.

  • Wildlife photographers spent months tracking the elusive Python sebae in the grasslands of southern Africa.

  • The Python sebae can grow over 20 feet long.

  • Have you ever seen a Python sebae in the wild?

  • The Python sebae is a remarkable species, known for its impressive size and striking patterns.

  • In Africa, the Python sebae often inhabits rocky areas and prey on various small mammals.

  • Conservationists are studying the habitat of the Python sebae to ensure its survival amidst habitat loss.

Synonyms

rock snake
vsPython sebae
  • South African
7.6

A very large snake from Africa that can grow over six meters long

is the scientific Latin name used for that same species
rock python
vsPython sebae
  • South African
7.1

A very large African snake that kills prey by squeezing it

is the specific Latin name for the same species rather than a general common name

Surface Forms

Python sebae singular
Python sebaes plural

Morphology

Python + sebae

The element 'Python' clearly signals the general referent (a type of snake), so a B1 learner who knows 'python' can infer this is a kind of python. However, 'sebae' is a Latin species epithet with no transparent English meaning, so the specific identity and attributes of the species are not derivable from the parts; the binomial naming convention gives partial help but not full predictability.

Etymology

Python sebae comes from two parts: the genus Python, named after a big mythical snake, and the species name sebae, which honors a collector called 'Seba'. That's why the name refers to a very large African snake.