pen-tail

Thân thiện

A pen-tail scurries along a tree branch, its distinctive tail held aloft.

Definition

Noun: A small, insectivorous mammal (Ptilocercus lowii), also commonly known as the pen-tailed tree shrew. It is characterized by its distinctive tail, which is hairless except for a fringe of long, stiff, white hairs at the distal end (the last third), resembling the shape of a quill pen. It is native to the forests of Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Usage Examples

• The pen-tail is a nocturnal mammal that feeds primarily on nectar and insects.
• Researchers study the pen-tail to understand the evolution of early primates.
• The most recognizable feature of the pen-tail is its unique, feather-like tail.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in zoological and biological contexts when discussing mammalian taxonomy or species native to the Malay Archipelago.
• In scientific literature, is the preferred binomial nomenclature, with "pen-tailed tree shrew" being the common name.

Variants and Related Words

• Pen-tailed tree shrew: The full common name for the same animal.
• Ptilocercus lowii: The scientific genus and species name.

Synonyms

• Pen-tailed tree shrew

Notes on Meaning

This word refers specifically to a single species of mammal. It does not have other general meanings. The name is a direct description of the animal's most striking physical characteristic—its tail, which resembles an old-fashioned quill pen.

Học thuật

Noun

1. brown tree shrew having a naked tail bilaterally fringed with long stiff hairs on the distal third; of Malaysia

Từ đồng nghĩa

• pentail
• pen-tailed tree shrew