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Glite Dictionary
dusky salamander

dusky salamander

6.8
A small animal like a frog with dark brown or grey skin that lives in damp forests
  • noun
  • /ˈdʌski ˈsæləmændər/
  • US
translation icon : salamandra oscura
  • In the quiet stream, a dusky salamander hid among the rocks, its skin blending perfectly with the surrounding environment.

Examples

  • The dusky salamander blends into the forest floor with its mottled brown and greyish-black coloring.

  • Gold splotches turned the tail of a dusky salamander into a necklace of irregular nuggets.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Children in the nature club found a dusky salamander during their hike, fascinated by its unique coloration.

Synonyms

salamander
vsdusky salamander
12 4.9

A small animal like a lizard with a long tail that lives on land and returns to water to breed

is a common North American type with mottled dull brown or greyish black
Desmognathus
vsdusky salamander
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of small salamanders native to North America, often found near streams

is a single common North American type with mottled dull brown or greyish black

Surface Forms

dusky salamander singular
dusky salamanders plural

Morphology

dusky + salamander

The meaning 'a salamander with dull brown or twilight-like coloring' is directly and transparently derived from the adjective 'dusky' modifying the noun 'salamander' — a straightforward adjective+noun composition. This compositional pattern is common and cross-linguistically familiar, so a B1 learner who knows both constituent words will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The name dusky salamander comes from the animal's dull, shadowy color. The word dusky means 'slightly dark', and the name shows this small salamander 'blends in' with wet leaves and logs, which is why we call it that today.