desman

See also: desmán

English

Etymology

From French desman, German Desman, from Swedish desmanråtta (muskrat), from desman (musk).

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈdɛsmən/

Noun

desman (plural desmans)

  1. Either of two species, Desmana moschata or Galemys pyrenaicus, of aquatic or semi-aquatic insectivore of the mole family, Talpidae, found in Europe.
    • 1995, R. David Stone (editor), Eurasian Insectivores and Tree Shrews: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan, page 50,
      Unlike the Russian desman, the Pyrenean species lives along fast-flowing mountain streams.
    • 2007, George A. Feldhamer, Lee C. Drickamer, Stephen H. Vessey, Joseph F. Merritt, Carey Krajewski, Mammalogy: Adaptation, Diversity, Ecology, 3rd Edition, page 250,
      Restricted to the Old World, desmans have a diet consisting of aquatic invertebrates and fish.
    • 2010, Joseph F. Merritt, The Biology of Small Mammals, page 38,
      With the aid of its Eimer's organs, the desman was able to detect engraved lines only one-fifteenth of a millimeter (0.067 mm, or 0.002 inches) in depth and width. There are two extant species of desmans: the Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus), weighing about 65 g (2.3 oz) (fig 2.10), and the larger Russian desman (Desmana moschata), weighing 500 g (17.6 oz).

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams


French

Noun

desman m (plural desmans)

  1. desman

Derived terms

  • desman des Pyrénées
  • desman de Moscovie
  • desman de Russie
  • desman russe

Further reading


Occitan

Noun

desman m (plural desmans)

  1. (Galemys pyrenaicus)[1] Pyrenean desman

Synonyms

References

  1. Gui Benoèt, "Las bèstias", 2008, Toulouse, IEO Edicions, 2008, →ISBN, p. 156 (as Desmana pyrenaica)
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