family Hylidae
- noun
- /ˈfæmɪli ˈhaɪlɪdi/
- Specialized
- Tree frogs from the family Hylidae are known for their strong climbing abilities and sticky toe pads.
Examples
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PHOTO (COLOR): One of a pair of red-eyed tree frogs from Central America wipes its face, a behavior shared with several other species of the family Hylidae.
Academic text (2001) -
In warm, humid environments, members of the family Hylidae thrive, often found perched on tree branches.
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The bright colors of the family Hylidae help them blend into the lush foliage of the rainforest.
Synonyms
A group of frogs that live in trees and have sticky toes
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a compositional taxonomic phrase: 'family' (a scientific grouping) combined with the proper taxon name 'Hylidae' yields the meaning 'the family called Hylidae' (tree frogs). The structure and logic (family + name) are cross-linguistically common and immediately interpretable by a learner who knows both constituents.
Etymology
Family Hylidae may come from an old Greek word 'hylē' meaning 'wood' or 'forest', which creates the picture of frogs living in trees. That's why family Hylidae refers to 'tree frogs' with sticky toe pads for climbing.