Definition

Noun 1. A genus of frogs: Ascaphus is the scientific name for a genus of primitive frogs. It is the type genus (the genus that defines the family) of the family Ascaphidae. These frogs are also sometimes classified within the family Leiopelmatidae.

Usage Notes

• The word is a proper noun and is always capitalized.
• It is used almost exclusively in scientific, biological, or zoological contexts.
• It refers specifically to the taxonomic group (the genus) itself, not to an individual frog. An individual frog from this genus is called an "Ascaphus frog" or by its common name.

Examples

• Scientific Classification: " is considered a living fossil due to its primitive anatomical features."
• Research Context: "The study focused on the unique reproductive biology of the genus ."
• Taxonomic Discussion: "Some herpetologists argue that should remain the sole genus within Ascaphidae."

Advanced Usage

• In Binomial Nomenclature: The genus name is combined with a species name to identify a specific type of frog. For example, is the coastal tailed frog.

Variants and Related Words

• Ascaphidae (noun): The family of frogs to which the genus belongs.
• tailed frog (noun): The common name for frogs of the genus , referring to a cloacal extension in males.
• Leiopelmatidae (noun): An alternative family classification that sometimes includes .

Synonyms

• Genus Ascaphus: (This is the formal synonym; there is no common English synonym for the scientific genus name.)

Different Meanings

This word has only one specific meaning in modern English: it is a zoological genus name. It does not have general, idiomatic, or figurative meanings.

Noun

1. type genus of the Ascaphidae; in some classifications included in the family Leiopelmatidae