marine iguana
Definition
Noun: A large, herbivorous lizard native to the Galapagos Islands, uniquely adapted to life in the ocean, where it dives to feed on seaweed and algae.
Usage
The term "marine iguana" is used to specifically identify this unique species of iguana. It functions as a countable noun. - The marine iguana is the only lizard in the world that forages in the sea. - We saw several marine iguanas basking on the black lava rocks. - Charles Darwin famously described the marine iguana as a "hideous-looking creature."
Advanced Usage
- Scientific Context: In biology and ecology, "marine iguana" refers to the species , often discussed in the context of evolution, adaptation, and island biogeography.
- The study focused on the thermoregulation of the marine iguana after cold-water dives.
Variants and Related Words
- Iguana (n): A general term for large, primarily herbivorous lizards of the family Iguanidae, typically found in tropical areas of the Americas. The marine iguana is a specific type of iguana.
- Unlike the green iguana, the marine iguana has a blunt snose for grazing on algae.
Synonyms
- Sea iguana: A less common but descriptive synonym.
- Galapagos iguana: A synonym that specifies its habitat location.
Different Meanings
The term "marine iguana" has only one primary meaning, referring to the specific lizard species Amblyrhynchus cristatus. It is not used idiomatically.
Noun
-
shore-dwelling seaweed-eating lizard of the Galapagos Islands
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