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Glite Dictionary
Tapirus terrestris

Tapirus terrestris

9.7
A large mammal from South and Central America that eats plants and has a long flexible snout
  • noun
  • /ˈteɪpɪrəs tɛrˈɛstrɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : tapirus terrestris
  • The Tapirus terrestris is easily recognized by its distinctive snout and robust body.

Examples

  • Habitat loss is a major threat to the survival of Tapirus terrestris in the wild.

  • Researchers are studying Tapirus terrestris populations to assess their risk of extinction.

  • The Tapirus terrestris is often found in rainforests.

  • Did you know that the Tapirus terrestris can weigh over 500 pounds?

  • Habitat loss is a major threat to the survival of Tapirus terrestris in the wild.

  • The Tapirus terrestris is easily recognized by its distinctive snout and robust body.

  • Researchers are studying Tapirus terrestris populations to assess their risk of extinction.

Surface Forms

Tapirus terrestris singular
Tapirus terrestrises plural

Morphology

Tapirus + terrestris

The name is compositional in that it combines the genus Tapirus (tapirs) with the Latin epithet terrestris (related to 'terrestrial'), so a learner who knows both parts can infer it refers to a land-dwelling tapir. However, binomial Latin epithets and taxonomic labels are specialized and do not reliably convey the precise species or geographic information to a B1 learner, so the relation is only partially predictable.

Etymology

Tapirus terrestris may come from old native words for the tapir plus the Latin word terrestris, which means 'of the earth' or 'land'. So the name gives the simple image of a tapir that lives on the land, helping you remember it is the South American tapir.