megatherian mammal
- noun
- /ˌmɛɡəˈθɪəriən ˈmæməl/
- Specialized
:
mamífero megaterio
- The fossilized remains of a megatherian mammal were discovered in the Patagonian region.
Examples
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Scientists believe the megatherian mammal became extinct around 10,000 years ago.
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Many megatherian mammals roamed South America during the Ice Age, feeding mainly on leaves.
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The megatherian mammal roamed the forests of South America.
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Did you know that the megatherian mammals lived during the Pleistocene epoch?
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Many megatherian mammals roamed South America during the Ice Age, feeding mainly on leaves.
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The fossilized remains of a megatherian mammal were discovered in the Patagonian region.
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Scientists believe the megatherian mammal became extinct around 10,000 years ago.
Synonyms
1
9.6
A very large extinct mammal with long claws that lived on land in the Americas long ago
1
9.9
A very large extinct ground sloth from South America that lived long ago
A very large extinct ground sloth that lived in South America long ago
A very large ground sloth that lived in South and Central America and is now extinct
A very large extinct animal like a ground sloth that lived in ancient America
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a straightforward noun phrase combining a taxonomic descriptor 'megatherian' (extinct ground sloth) with the noun 'mammal', so a learner who knows both constituents will infer it denotes a mammal of the megatherian group. The meaning is fully compositional and follows normal English noun-modifier patterns, making it predictable despite the technical vocabulary.
Etymology
Megatherian mammal takes its name from the Greek parts mega 'big' and therion 'beast', which gives the image of a very large animal. These were giant ground sloths that lived in South America during the Ice Age, so the phrase refers to a very large extinct mammal.