Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Uropsilus soricipes

Uropsilus soricipes

9.9
A small mammal like a shrew that lives in the mountains of eastern Asia
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Uropsilus soricipes
  • The Uropsilus soricipes has a long, slender snout similar to that of a shrew.

Examples

  • Researchers observed a Uropsilus soricipes in its native habitat in the mountains of eastern Asia.

  • Conservation efforts are underway to protect the habitat of Uropsilus soricipes.

  • The Uropsilus soricipes is a fascinating creature native to eastern Asia.

  • Have you ever seen a Uropsilus soricipes in the wild?

  • Researchers observed a Uropsilus soricipes in its native habitat in the mountains of eastern Asia.

  • The Uropsilus soricipes has a long, slender snout similar to that of a shrew.

  • Conservation efforts are underway to protect the habitat of Uropsilus soricipes.

Surface Forms

Uropsilus soricipes singular
Uropsilus soricipes plural

Morphology

Uropsilus + soricipes

This is a Latin taxonomic binomial (genus + species) rather than an ordinary English phrase, so its meaning (‘a particular species of shrew mole’) is not compositionally derived from everyday English words. The constituents are specialized names (one a genus, the other an obscure epithet not in common dictionaries), so a B1 learner who knows ordinary English vocabulary would not be able to infer the MWE’s meaning.

Etymology

Uropsilus soricipes may come from old words meaning 'tail' (Uropsilus) and 'shrew-foot' (soricipes). This gives a simple picture of a small mole with a long tail and a shrew-like nose and feet, so the name points to the shrew-mole animal we mean today.