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Glite Dictionary
Taurotragus derbianus

Taurotragus derbianus

9.9
A large antelope with dark stripes and spiral horns from west Africa near the equator
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Taurotragus derbianus
  • The Taurotragus derbianus is renowned for its impressive spiral horns and striking stripes.

Examples

  • Conservationists are working to protect the dwindling population of Taurotragus derbianus in its natural habitat.

  • Many tourists come to Africa to see the Taurotragus derbianus in its natural habitat.

  • Unlike other antelopes, the Taurotragus derbianus prefers densely forested areas.

  • The Taurotragus derbianus is known for its impressive size.

  • Conservationists are working to protect the dwindling population of Taurotragus derbianus in its natural habitat.

  • The Taurotragus derbianus is renowned for its impressive spiral horns and striking stripes.

  • Unlike other antelopes, the Taurotragus derbianus prefers densely forested areas.

Synonyms

giant eland
vsTaurotragus derbianus
  • South African
8.6

A very large antelope with dark stripes and twisted horns that lives in western and central Africa

is limited to western equatorial Africa rather than central regions

Surface Forms

Taurotragus derbianus singular
Taurotragus derbianus plural

Morphology

Taurotragus + derbianus

This is a scientific binomial: 'Taurotragus' names a genus of antelopes while 'derbianus' is a Latinized species epithet that carries no transparent, everyday lexical meaning. A B1 learner who knows the genus label might guess it refers to an antelope but cannot derive the specific sense ('large, dark-striped eland native to western equatorial Africa') from the parts without specialist taxonomic knowledge, so the expression is not compositionally transparent.

Etymology

Taurotragus derbianus may come from old words meaning 'bull', Tauro, and 'goat', tragus, which gives the image of a large antelope with strong horns and a beard. The second part, derbianus, is 'named after' the person who first described the species, so the whole name both describes the animal and remembers that person.