desman

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

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈdɛsmən/

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).

• Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus)
• Russian desman (Desmana moschata)

• Amends, Amsden, Edmans, amends, amends., demans

desman m (plural desmans)

1. desman

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

• “desman” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

desman m (plural desmans)

1. (Galemys pyrenaicus)[1] Pyrenean desman

• [1]: rat trompeta