genus Agama

9.9

A group of lizards from Africa and parts of Asia, often brightly colored

noun
/ˈdʒɛnəs əˈɡɑːmə/

Specialized

: género Agama

The genus Agama includes several brightly colored lizard species found in sub-Saharan Africa.

Examples

Males from the genus Agama are known for their striking coloration during the breeding season.
Taxonomists reclassified certain species under the genus Agama after new genetic evidence emerged.
The genus Agama includes many species of lizards.
Researchers study the genus Agama for its unique adaptations.
Males from the genus Agama are known for their striking coloration during the breeding season.
The genus Agama includes several brightly colored lizard species found in sub-Saharan Africa.
Taxonomists reclassified certain species under the genus Agama after new genetic evidence emerged.

Surface Forms

genus Agama singular

genera Agama plural

Morphology

genus + agama

The meaning is directly compositional: 'genus' denotes a biological grouping and 'Agama' names a group of lizards, so 'genus Agama' straightforwardly means the taxonomic group called Agama. Although technical and using a Latinized proper name, the construction follows standard biological naming conventions found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would grasp the meaning.

Etymology

Genus Agama may come from a local West African word for these bright, common lizards. Early scientists kept that local name and used Agama as the scientific genus, so today genus Agama means the 'group' of those kinds of lizards.