Semiaquatic (Adjective)
Meaning 1
Partially aquatic; living or growing partly on land and partly in water; "a marginal subaquatic flora".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The semiaquatic plants that thrive in the wetlands are uniquely adapted to survive in both waterlogged soil and temporary dry periods.
- Semiaquatic animals, such as otters and beavers, are well-suited to their environments with webbed feet and water-repellent fur.
- The semiaquatic characteristics of the cattails allow them to flourish in areas with fluctuating water levels, making them a common sight in marshes.
- In the semiaquatic ecosystem of the mangrove forest, trees and shrubs have developed extensive root systems to stabilize themselves in the shifting mud and water.
- The muskrat is a semiaquatic rodent that constructs elaborate homes in the wetlands, using aquatic plants and mud to build its lodges.
Synonyms
Meaning 2
Having an aquatic early or larval form and a terrestrial adult form.
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The semiaquatic lifestyle of frogs, which begin as aquatic tadpoles and develop into terrestrial adults, is a complex and fascinating process.
- Newts are semiaquatic creatures that spend their larval stage in water and then undergo metamorphosis to become land-dwelling adults.
- Many species of toads are semiaquatic, with aquatic larvae that eventually transform into terrestrial adults with adaptations for living on land.
- The semiaquatic nature of certain salamander species allows them to thrive in a variety of environments, from aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial habitats.
- Some insects, such as certain species of beetles, are semiaquatic, with aquatic larvae that feed and grow in water before emerging as terrestrial adults.