mountain paca
- noun
:
paca de montaña
- The mountain paca is a large rodent that burrows in the rocky soil of the Andean mountains.
Examples
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The mountain paca is prized for its meat in many Andean communities.
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Unlike its lowland relatives, the mountain paca prefers higher, cooler environments.
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Researchers tracked a mountain paca through the dense foliage of the cloud forest.
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The mountain paca is a unique rodent native to the Andes.
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Many people enjoy hunting mountain pacas for their meat.
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In the Andes, locals often hunt the mountain paca, which is known for its tasty meat.
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With its distinctive spotted fur, the mountain paca blends well into the mountainous landscape.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A large burrowing rodent from Central and South America with a spotted coat that people eat for meat
A large spotted rodent that lives in mountain forests of Central and South America
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase is compositionally built from 'mountain' (habitat) + 'paca' (a rodent), so its meaning—a paca that lives in or is associated with mountainous regions—is directly derivable from the constituents. Habitat-based animal compounds are a common, cross-linguistic naming pattern, making this understandable to a B1 learner who knows both words.
Etymology
Mountain paca is a simple name: mountain shows where it lives and paca is the animal. Imagine a large, spotted rodent digging burrows on a cool mountain slope, so the name means 'a paca that lives in the mountains'.