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genus Crocuta

genus Crocuta

9.9
A group of hyenas that includes the spotted hyena
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒɛnəs ˈkroʊkʊtə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : género Crocuta
  • The genus Crocuta is best known for its only living member, the spotted hyena.

Examples

  • The genus Crocuta includes the well-known spotted hyena.

  • Scientists classified the animal as belonging to the genus Crocuta after a detailed analysis of its skull.

  • Fossil records suggest that the genus Crocuta had a much wider distribution in the past.

  • Did you know that genus Crocuta is native to Africa?

  • The genus Crocuta is most famous for the spotted hyena, known for its unique vocalizations.

  • Scientists have identified several fossils from the genus Crocuta, revealing its evolutionary history.

  • Researchers study the genus Crocuta to understand more about the behavior of hyenas in the wild.

Synonyms

Crocuta
vsgenus Crocuta
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of hyenas that includes the spotted hyena

is the same term but presented with an explicit taxonomic label

Surface Forms

genus Crocuta singular

Morphology

genus + Crocuta

The phrase is fully compositional: 'genus' (a biological rank) combined with the proper name 'Crocuta' yields the straightforward meaning 'the genus named Crocuta' (a group of related species). Taxonomic naming is a common, cross-linguistic convention, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to understand the MWE.

Etymology

The name genus Crocuta comes from scientific naming: genus means a 'group' of related animals and Crocuta was an old name for hyenas used by early writers. So, genus Crocuta simply means the group that contains the spotted hyena.