genus Alces
- noun
- /ˈdʒɛnəs ˈælkiːz/
- Specialized
- The genus Alces contains only one extant species, the moose, found across the northern hemisphere.
Examples
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Conservation efforts for the genus Alces focus mainly on habitat preservation for the moose.
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Paleontologists have discovered fossil species within the genus Alces from the Pleistocene era.
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The genus Alces includes the majestic moose.
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Did you know that the genus Alces is found in Canada?
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The genus Alces includes large deer such as the moose, which thrive in cold climates.
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In the genus Alces, the moose is the only species that still exists today.
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Scientists study the genus Alces to understand the evolution of large deer.
Synonyms
A group of very large deer that includes the moose
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward compositional combination: 'genus' names a biological rank and 'Alces' is the taxonomic name, so together they denote the taxonomic group containing moose/elk. A B1 learner who knows both constituent words (and that scientific names are used internationally) can reliably infer the intended meaning.
Etymology
Genus Alces comes from the old word Alces, which meant a large deer or 'elk' in Latin and Greek. That's why the name is used for the group of big deer that includes the 'moose'.