collared pika
- noun
- /ˈkɒl.ərd ˈpi.kə/
- US
- The collared pika lives among rocky slopes at high elevations in Alaska.
Examples
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Unlike its cousin, the American pika, the collared pika prefers solitary living.
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Researchers observed a collared pika storing grass for the winter months.
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The collared pika is known for its unique vocalizations.
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Have you ever seen a collared pika in the wild?
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Researchers observed a collared pika storing grass for the winter months.
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The collared pika lives among rocky slopes at high elevations in Alaska.
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Unlike its cousin, the American pika, the collared pika prefers solitary living.
Synonyms
A small animal like a rabbit that eats plants and lives on rocky slopes in Alaska and northwest Canada
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally transparent: 'collared' (having a collar or collar-like marking) modifies 'pika' (a small mammal), so the meaning is a pika with a collar or collar-like marking. This species-naming pattern (e.g. 'collared dove') is common and cross-linguistically recognizable, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning.
Etymology
Collared pika gets its name from how the animal looks: pika is a small, rabbit-like animal and collared points to a pale band of fur around its neck. So the name helps you picture this 'small, rabbit-like mammal' with a 'collar' of fur.