sea cow
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A large, fully aquatic, herbivorous marine mammal. Sea cows are characterized by a streamlined body, paddle-shaped tail, flipper-like forelimbs, and the absence of hind limbs. They are slow-moving and feed primarily on seagrasses and other aquatic vegetation.
Usage
The term "sea cow" is used to refer to specific marine mammals within the order Sirenia. It is a common name, not a scientific one, and often describes their gentle, grazing nature, similar to a cow on land. - The dugong is a type of sea cow found in warm coastal waters. - Conservationists are working to protect the habitat of the endangered sea cow.
Advanced Usage
- "Gentle as a sea cow": An informal simile highlighting the animal's docile and non-aggressive nature.
- Despite its large size, the manatee is as gentle as a sea cow.
Variants and Related Words
- Sirenian (n): The scientific name for the order of mammals that includes sea cows (manatees and dugongs).
- All sirenians are threatened or endangered.
- Manatee (n): A type of sea cow found in the Atlantic Ocean and associated rivers.
- Dugong (n): A type of sea cow found in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.
- Steller's sea cow (n): An extinct, very large species of sea cow historically found in the North Pacific.
Synonyms
- Sirenian: The formal biological term.
- Manatee / Dugong: Specific types of sea cows. (Note: These are more specific, not perfect synonyms for the general term.)
Related Idioms
No common idioms directly feature "sea cow." The animal's name itself is a metaphorical description of its behavior.
Noun
- any of two families of large herbivorous aquatic mammals with paddle-shaped tails and flipper-like forelimbs and no hind limbs