ornithorhynchus
/,ɔ:niθcu'riɳkəs/
Definition
- Noun:
- A genus of monotreme mammals: "Ornithorhynchus" is the scientific name for the genus that contains the single living species known as the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). It is a type of egg-laying mammal found in eastern Australia and Tasmania.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The ornithorhynchus is one of the few extant monotreme species.
- Scientists study the unique electroreception system of the ornithorhynchus.
Advanced Usage
- In taxonomic context: Used specifically in biological and zoological classifications.
- The family Ornithorhynchidae contains only the genus Ornithorhynchus.
Variants and Related Words
- Platypus (n): The common name for the animal classified as .
- The platypus is a semiaquatic mammal.
- Monotreme (n): The broader order of egg-laying mammals to which the ornithorhynchus belongs.
- Echidnas and the platypus are monotremes.
Synonyms
- Duck-billed platypus: A common descriptive synonym.
- Platypus: The standard common name.
Notes on Meaning
- The word "ornithorhynchus" is almost exclusively used in formal, scientific contexts. In everyday language, the animal is universally called a "platypus." The term itself is derived from Greek roots meaning "bird snout," referring to the creature's distinctive bill.
Noun
-
type genus of the family Ornithorhynchidae
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ đồng nghĩa
Từ chứa "ornithorhynchus"
