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Glite Dictionary
genus Lemur

genus Lemur

9.2
A group of lemur species that live in Madagascar
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒiːnəs ˈliːmər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : género Lemur
  • The genus Lemur includes several species native to Madagascar.

Examples

  • In the genus Lemur, the ring-tailed lemur is one of the most recognizable species.

  • Did you know that the genus Lemur has unique adaptations?

  • Conservation efforts are crucial for the survival of animals in the genus Lemur.

  • Scientists discovered a new member of the genus Lemur during their expedition.

  • The genus Lemur includes several species that are native to Madagascar.

  • The genus Lemur includes various species that thrive in the forests of Madagascar.

  • Researchers are studying the behavior of animals in the genus Lemur to understand their social structures.

Surface Forms

genus Lemur singular
genera Lemur plural

Morphology

genus + lemur

The meaning is directly compositional: 'genus' (a biological rank) + 'lemur' (the animal) yields the genus that contains lemur species. Taxonomic noun–noun constructions are cross-linguistically common, so a learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

The name genus Lemur may come from the old Latin word 'lemur' meaning 'ghost', because these animals are often active at night and have bright eyes that look a little spooky. The word genus means 'group' or 'type', so genus Lemur simply names the group of animals called lemurs that live in Madagascar.