cayman

/'keimən/ Cách viết khác : (caiman) /'keimən/

Thân thiện

A cayman rests on a muddy riverbank in the sunlight.

Definition

Noun: A cayman is a semiaquatic reptile native to Central and South America. It is similar in appearance to an alligator but is distinguished by having a more heavily armored belly, often with bony plates (osteoderms) embedded in its skin.

Usage

The word "cayman" is used to refer to this specific type of crocodilian reptile. It is a countable noun. * The biologist studied the behavior of the cayman in the Amazon basin. * Several species of caymans inhabit the rivers and wetlands of South America.

Advanced Usage

• "Cayman" vs. "Caiman": "Cayman" and "caiman" are variant spellings for the same animal. "Caiman" is also widely accepted and used, particularly in scientific contexts.
  • The spectacled caiman is one of the most common species.

Variants and Related Words

• Caiman (noun): An alternative spelling for "cayman."
• Crocodilian (noun): The broader biological order (Crocodilia) that includes caymans, alligators, crocodiles, and gharials.

Synonyms

• Alligator (noun): A closely related reptile, but from a different genus (), primarily found in the United States and China. While similar, alligators generally have a broader snout and less armored undersides than caymans.

Different Meanings

The word "cayman" refers specifically to the reptile. It does not have other common meanings. The Cayman Islands are a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean, named after the reptiles found there.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a semiaquatic reptile of Central and South America that resembles an alligator but has a more heavily armored belly

Từ đồng nghĩa

• caiman