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Glite Dictionary
side-blotched lizard

side-blotched lizard

1 8.4
A small spotted lizard with a dark spot on each side behind the front legs
  • noun
  • /ˈsaɪdˌblɒtʃt ˈlɪzərd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : lagartija de manchas laterales
  • The side-blotched lizard is easily identified by the dark blotch on each side behind its front limbs.

Examples

  • In the dry climate of the desert, the side-blotched lizard thrives among the cacti and shrubs.

  • Side-blotched lizards scattered from either side of the trail as I hiked upward, diving under some very ratty-looking brittle bush for cover as I passed.

    Blog text (6)

  • During my hike, I spotted a side-blotched lizard basking on a rock in the sun.

Synonyms

Uta stansburiana
vsside-blotched lizard
  • Specialized
9.9

A small common lizard from dry western United States with a dark mark on its side

focuses on a dark blotch on each side behind the front limbs

Surface Forms

side-blotched lizard singular
side-blotched lizards plural

Morphology

side-blotched + lizard

The adjective 'side-blotched' transparently combines 'side' (the flank of the body) with 'blotched' (having spots or blotches), so a 'side-blotched lizard' is directly interpretable as a lizard with blotches on its sides. This is a straightforward descriptive compound following normal English composition patterns and is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent meanings would understand it.

Etymology

Side-blotched lizard is named for the dark 'blotch' behind the front legs on each side of its body, a clear mark people used to recognize this small lizard. That's why the name describes the animal you see today.