alpine salamander

9.2

A salamander that lives in high Alpine areas and gives birth to live young

noun

: salamandra alpina

Unlike many amphibians, the alpine salamander gives birth to live young.

Examples

We spotted an alpine salamander while hiking in the Austrian Alps after a rainstorm.
The alpine salamander is found in the mountainous regions of the Alps.
The alpine salamander is well adapted to life in the cold, mountainous regions of Europe.
Many alpine salamanders can be seen during the summer months.
The alpine salamander is known for giving birth to live young instead of laying eggs.
While hiking in the Italian Alps, we encountered a beautiful alpine salamander basking on a rock.
Living in high-altitude habitats, the alpine salamander thrives in cold environments.

Synonyms

Salamandra atra

vsalpine salamander

Specialized

9.9

A small black salamander that lives in the Alps and gives birth to live young

refers to the same mountain species but omits the black colour detail

Surface Forms

alpine salamander singular

alpine salamanders plural

Morphology

Alpine + salamander

The compound simply combines 'alpine' (related to the Alps) with 'salamander' (an amphibian), so a learner who knows both words can infer it denotes a salamander from the Alpine region. The technical detail about being ovoviviparous is specialized biological information but does not reduce the straightforward, compositional nature of the term.

Etymology

Alpine salamander comes from the words alpine (meaning mountain) and salamander (a small amphibian), so picture a small amphibian living high in the Alps. This animal 'gives birth to live young' instead of laying eggs, so the name helps you remember a mountain salamander with an unusual way of having babies.