Skip to main content
Urocyon cinereoargenteus

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

9.9
A small fox with grey fur that can climb trees
  • noun
  • /ˈjʊroʊˌsaɪən sɪnɪˈroʊɑːrˈdʒɛntuːs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Urocyon cinereoargenteus
  • The Urocyon cinereoargenteus is notable for its ability to climb trees, unlike most other foxes.

Examples

  • Researchers are tracking the population of Urocyon cinereoargenteus in southern Texas.

  • Several wildlife parks have successfully bred Urocyon cinereoargenteus in captivity.

  • The Urocyon cinereoargenteus is known for its adaptability.

  • Have you ever seen a Urocyon cinereoargenteus in the wild?

  • Researchers are tracking the population of Urocyon cinereoargenteus in southern Texas.

  • Several wildlife parks have successfully bred Urocyon cinereoargenteus in captivity.

  • The Urocyon cinereoargenteus is notable for its ability to climb trees, unlike most other foxes.

Synonyms

gray fox
vsUrocyon cinereoargenteus
  • US
1 5.7

A medium-sized wild animal with gray fur that lives in North and Central America and can climb trees

is described as native only to Central America and the southern United States

Surface Forms

Morphology

Urocyon + cinereoargenteus

This is a Latin scientific name (binomial) where the genus 'Urocyon' might hint at a small canid but the species epithet 'cinereoargenteus' is not a known English word and is absent from the learner dictionary. A B1 learner who knows the listed constituents would not be able to derive the full meaning ('gray fox' species) from these parts, so the name functions like an opaque lexical item to most learners.

Etymology

The name Urocyon cinereoargenteus comes from old words, with Urocyon meaning 'tail' and 'dog' and cinereoargenteus meaning 'ash' and 'silver', so imagine a small dog-like fox with a bushy tail and gray-silver fur. That's why the name is used for the gray fox species found in Central America and the southern United States.