Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
genus Sorex

genus Sorex

9.9
A group of small insect-eating mammals called shrews
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒɛnəs ˈsɔrɛks/
  • Specialized
translation icon : género Sorex
  • The genus Sorex includes many species of small, insectivorous mammals called shrews.

Examples

  • Researchers discovered a new species belonging to the genus Sorex in the remote mountain region.

  • The genus Sorex includes various species of shrews.

  • Members of the genus Sorex are often studied for their high metabolic rates.

  • Did you know that genus Sorex is known for its high metabolic rate?

  • The genus Sorex includes many species of small, insectivorous mammals known as shrews.

  • Members of the genus Sorex are often studied for their unique adaptations to their environments.

  • Researchers discovered a new species within the genus Sorex that has distinct ecological characteristics.

Synonyms

Sorex
vsgenus Sorex
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A group of small mammals that eat insects and are called shrews

is the type genus that serves as the family's representative group

Surface Forms

genus Sorex singular
genera Sorex plural

Morphology

genus + Sorex

The phrase 'genus Sorex' is directly compositional: 'genus' denotes a biological rank and 'Sorex' is the proper name of that genus, so a learner who knows both constituents will understand it refers to that taxonomic group. Although specialized scientific vocabulary, the noun + name construction and Latin taxonomic conventions are transparent and cross-linguistically consistent, making the meaning accessible to learners who know the parts.

Etymology

Genus Sorex comes from old Latin: genus means a 'group' and Sorex was the Latin word for a 'shrew'. So the name literally meant the 'group' of 'shrews', which is why scientists use it for the common small animals that eat insects today.