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Glite Dictionary
Trichechus manatus

Trichechus manatus

9.9
A large plant-eating sea mammal with a rounded flat tail that lives in warm coastal waters of the Americas
  • noun
  • Specialized
: manatí
  • The Trichechus manatus is often seen grazing on seagrass.

Examples

  • We spotted a Trichechus manatus swimming peacefully near the mangroves during our boat tour.

  • The Trichechus manatus is protected by law in many countries due to its endangered status.

  • Marine biologists study the habitat needs of the Trichechus manatus to help conserve its population.

  • In Florida, the Trichechus manatus is a protected species.

  • Marine biologists study the habitat needs of the Trichechus manatus to help conserve its population.

  • The Trichechus manatus is protected by law in many countries due to its endangered status.

  • We spotted a Trichechus manatus swimming peacefully near the mangroves during our boat tour.

Synonyms

manatee
vsTrichechus manatus
  • US
18 5.7

A large gentle water mammal with a flat tail that eats plants in warm coastal waters

is the scientific name for the same species

Surface Forms

Trichechus manatus singular
Trichechus manatuses plural

Morphology

Trichechus + manatus

This is a Latin binomial (taxonomic) name rather than a compositional English phrase; the species epithet 'manatus' is not an English lexical item and its meaning is not derivable from the parts. Even if a learner knew 'Trichechus' as a genus of aquatic mammals, scientific names function as labels, so a B1 learner would not be able to infer 'West Indian manatee' from the constituents.

Etymology

Trichechus manatus is the scientific name for the animal people call the 'manatee' or 'West Indian manatee'. Imagine a large, gentle sea cow that swims slowly in warm coastal waters with a round, flat tail; that picture is exactly what the name refers to and is why scientists use it for this species.