tailed frog

9.8

A small frog from western North America with a tail-like organ in males used to mate

noun
/teɪld frɔg/

: rana con cola

In western North America, the tailed frog is often found in clean, cold streams.

Examples

The tailed frog is known for its unique tail-like structure used during breeding.
Researchers studied the habitat of the tailed frog to understand its environmental needs.
A few months later, after Mt. St. Helens has erupted again, you read how on the slopes the muskrats and minks return, the deer mice, and the tailed frogs.

Fiction book (1992)

Synonyms

Ascaphus trui

vstailed frog

Specialized

9.9

A frog from western North America with a tail-like organ used in mating

is the common small amphibian name rather than the scientific label

tailed toad

vstailed frog

9.9

A frog from western North America that keeps a tail-like part used in mating

is the usual common name used for the small western amphibian

ribbed toad

vstailed frog

9.9

A frog from western North America with a tail like body part used in mating

refers generally to the small species without stressing that feature

bell toad

vstailed frog

Specialized

9.7

A frog in western North America that uses a tail-like organ to mate

is the general common name focusing on the small western amphibian

Surface Forms

tailed frog singular

tailed frogs plural

Morphology

tailed + frog

The noun phrase is directly compositional: 'tailed' describes a frog that has a tail or tail-like structure, so the overall meaning is a frog with a tail. This follows a common adjective+noun pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reliably infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Tailed frog: The noun tailed frog names a small frog whose males have a 'tail' that is actually a small tube. That little 'tail' helps the male hold on and 'mate' in fast mountain streams, so people call it a tailed frog.