harpy bat
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun 1. A type of fruit bat: A bat of the genus Nyctimene, characterized by having nostrils that are elongated into distinct, diverging tubes.
Usage
The term "harpy bat" is a specific common name used in zoology and biology to refer to these particular bats. It is typically used in scientific, educational, or wildlife contexts. * The researcher documented a colony of harpy bats in the rainforest canopy. * Unlike other fruit bats, the harpy bat has a very distinctive facial structure.
Advanced Usage
- The name "harpy bat" is derived from the bat's genus name, , and its distinctive tubular nostrils, which may be likened to the features of the Harpies of Greek mythology. It is primarily used as a countable noun.
Variants and Related Words
- Tubed-nosed fruit bat: Another common name for bats of the genus , describing the same physical characteristic.
- Nyctimene: The scientific genus name for this group of bats.
Synonyms
- Tubed-nosed bat: A direct descriptive synonym.
- Fruit bat (of the genus Nyctimene): A more general term specifying the genus.
Notes on Meaning
- The defining characteristic of the harpy bat is its unique nasal morphology. The term specifically points to this anatomical feature rather than behavior or size.
- It is important to distinguish "harpy bat" (genus ) from the unrelated "harpy eagle," which is a large bird of prey.
Noun
- any of various fruit bats of the genus Nyctimene distinguished by nostrils drawn out into diverging tubes