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Glite Dictionary
jackass penguin

jackass penguin

1 7.8
A small penguin from southern Africa and South America with a loud braying call like a donkey
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒækˌæs ˈpɛŋɡwɪn/
  • South African
translation icon : pingüino jackass
  • We observed a colony of jackass penguins waddling along the rocky shore in South Africa.
  • called a jackass penguin

Examples

  • I saw a jackass penguin at the zoo.

  • The jackass penguin is known for its distinctive braying call, which resembles that of a donkey.

  • The jackass penguin is famous for the loud braying noise it makes during mating season.

  • Unlike other species, the jackass penguin nests in burrows to protect its eggs from the sun.

  • The jackass penguin is an interesting bird.

  • In the wild, you can often hear the jackass penguin vocalizing loudly, making it a unique bird among its peers.

  • During our trip to the aquarium, we were excited to see the jackass penguins waddling around and making their characteristic sounds.

Synonyms

Spheniscus demersus
vsjackass penguin
  • Specialized
9.9

A black-and-white penguin that lives on the coasts of southern Africa and makes a braying call like a donkey

is broader, including populations in South America and a donkey like call

Surface Forms

jackass penguin singular
jackass penguins plural

Morphology

jackass + penguin

The compound is compositionally transparent: 'jackass' (donkey) modifies 'penguin', so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a kind of penguin associated with donkey-like braying. This naming pattern (animal A + animal B = B with A-like quality) is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so the meaning is directly derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Jackass penguin comes from the bird's loud sound that is like a donkey. People compared that noise to a jackass, a 'male donkey', so the name stayed with this penguin.