Ascaphus

noun

As·​ca·​phus

ˈaskəfəs

: a genus of western North American toads including only the bell toad which is distinguished by a taillike copulatory organ in the male cloaca and which is sometimes isolated in a separate family (Ascaphidae) but usually included in the Liopelmidae

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek askaphos not dug about, from a- a- entry 2 + -skaphos (from skaptein to dig); akin to Latin capo capon

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