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Glite Dictionary
genus Tarsius

genus Tarsius

9.9
A group of small primates with very large eyes that live in trees in Southeast Asia
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒɛnəs ˈtɑrsiəs/
  • Specialized
: género Tarsius
  • Spectral tarsiers and all the other living tarsier species are classified in the genus Tarsius.

Examples

  • The genus Tarsius includes several species of tarsiers that are native to Southeast Asia.

  • Each species within the genus Tarsius showcases distinct behaviors that contribute to its survival in the wild.

  • Researchers are studying the genus Tarsius to understand its unique adaptations to its environment.

Synonyms

Tarsius
vsgenus Tarsius
  • Specialized
1 9.9

Small animals from Southeast Asia that are active at night with very large eyes and long hind legs for leaping

is the identical concept presented with the explicit rank label
family Tarsiidae
vsgenus Tarsius
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of small animals like monkeys called tarsiers that live in trees

is the same group but expressed at the genus rank rather than family

Surface Forms

genus Tarsius singular
genera Tarsius plural

Morphology

genus + Tarsius

The phrase is fully compositional: 'genus' (a biological rank) combined with the proper name 'Tarsius' yields 'the genus called Tarsius'. Taxonomic naming conventions are similar across languages, so a learner who knows both constituents can readily infer this technical meaning despite it being specialist vocabulary.

Etymology

Genus Tarsius is the scientific name for a group of small primates called tarsiers. The word Tarsius comes from an old word for 'ankle' because these animals have very long ankle bones for jumping, so that image became the name for the whole group.