steller's sea cow
Definition
- Noun:
- An extinct large marine mammal: "Steller's sea cow" refers to a very large, herbivorous aquatic mammal that is now extinct. It was a type of sirenian, related to modern manatees and dugongs.
- A specific historical species: It specifically denotes the species (Hydrodamalis gigas) that was discovered in the 18th century in the Bering Sea and was hunted to extinction shortly after.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The Steller's sea cow was a gentle giant of the northern Pacific.
- Marine biologists study historical accounts to learn about the behavior of the Steller's sea cow.
- Its extinction is a classic example of human-driven loss of a species.
Advanced Usage
- "Like a Steller's sea cow": used metaphorically to describe something very large, placid, and vulnerable.
- The old cargo ship, slow and defenseless, was like a Steller's sea cow among modern pirates.
- In academic contexts, the binomial nomenclature is often used synonymously with the common name "Steller's sea cow."
Variants and Related Words
- Sea cow (n): A general term for sirenians, including manatees and dugongs. "Steller's sea cow" is a specific type of extinct sea cow.
- Sirenian (n): The order of aquatic, herbivorous mammals that includes sea cows.
- Hydrodamalis gigas (n): The scientific name for Steller's sea cow.
Synonyms
- Hydrodamalis gigas (Scientific name)
- Northern sea cow (Historical variant)
- Great northern manatee (An archaic synonym)
Related Phrases
- Hunted to extinction: A phrase frequently associated with the fate of the Steller's sea cow.
- The Steller's sea cow was hunted to extinction within 27 years of its discovery by Europeans.
Related Idioms
- A Steller's sea cow fate: An idiom describing a situation where something valuable and unique is quickly destroyed due to shortsighted exploitation.
- The unregulated mining project faced criticism, with activists warning it could meet a Steller's sea cow fate.
Noun
-
extinct large sirenian mammal formerly found near the Asiatic coast of the Bering Sea
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