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Glite Dictionary
family Erinaceidae

family Erinaceidae

9.5
Small, spiny mammals like hedgehogs that live in Europe, Asia, and Africa
  • noun
  • /ˈfæmɪli ˌɛrɪˈneɪʃiˌdeɪ/
  • Specialized
: familia Erinaceidae
  • The family Erinaceidae consists of small, spiny mammals commonly known as hedgehogs.

Examples

  • The family Erinaceidae includes several genera of hedgehogs found in different parts of the world.

  • Members of the family Erinaceidae are characterized by their distinctive spines and insectivorous diet.

  • Researchers are studying the evolutionary relationships within the family Erinaceidae to understand their adaptation to various habitats.

  • The family Erinaceidae includes many species of hedgehogs.

  • Did you know that the family Erinaceidae is found in Europe?

  • In the family Erinaceidae, hedgehogs are recognized for their unique appearance and insect-eating habits.

  • Species within the family Erinaceidae are often found in gardens, where they hunt for insects.

Synonyms

Erinaceidae
vsfamily Erinaceidae
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of small mammals like hedgehogs with spiny coats and short tails

emphasizes native regions rather than diet or tail features

Surface Forms

family Erinaceidae singular
families Erinaceidae plural

Morphology

family + Erinaceidae

The phrase is fully compositional: 'family' as a taxonomic grouping combined with the taxon name 'Erinaceidae' (spiny mammals/hedgehogs) yields the meaning 'a family of hedgehogs' directly. This scientific naming pattern is cross-linguistically regular, so a B1 learner who knows both constituent meanings can readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Family Erinaceidae comes from the Latin name Erinaceidae, which is based on the word 'erinaceus' meaning 'hedgehog'. Scientists used that name for the small, spiny animals, so today family Erinaceidae simply means the hedgehog family.