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Glite Dictionary
Sauromalus obesus

Sauromalus obesus

9.9
A large lizard that eats plants and basks on hot desert rocks
  • noun
  • /ˌsɔːrəˈmɑːləs oʊˈbiːsəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Sauromalus obesus
  • A Sauromalus obesus can grow quite large, with some adults reaching up to 76 centimeters in length.

Examples

  • The Sauromalus obesus is well adapted to the rocky deserts of Arizona and California.

  • Researchers observed a Sauromalus obesus basking on a sun-warmed boulder.

  • The Sauromalus obesus is often found basking on rocks.

  • Many people are fascinated by the Sauromalus obesus.

  • A Sauromalus obesus can grow quite large, with some adults reaching up to 76 centimeters in length.

  • Researchers observed a Sauromalus obesus basking on a sun-warmed boulder.

  • The Sauromalus obesus is well adapted to the rocky deserts of Arizona and California.

Synonyms

chuckwalla
vsSauromalus obesus
  • US
9.9

A large lizard that eats plants and lives on desert rocks

is the scientific name used for that same species

How Big

Sauromalus obesus
  • Specialized
9.9
lizard
103 1.0

Surface Forms

Sauromalus obesus singular
Sauromalus obesus plural

Morphology

Sauromalus + obesus

This is a Latin binomial (a scientific species name) functioning as a lexicalized proper noun rather than a compositional English phrase. The second element 'obesus' is not a standard English word (and is missing from the provided dictionary entry), and even if it were recognized as a Latin root meaning 'fat,' most B1 learners would not reliably map Latin species epithets to common English referents like 'common chuckwalla.' Therefore the overall meaning is not predictably derivable from the parts for an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Sauromalus obesus comes from two old words: sauros meaning 'lizard' and obesus meaning 'fat'. So the name paints a picture of a chunky, round lizard, which is why it refers to the common chuckwalla.