Salientia
/ˌseɪliˈɛnʃiə/noun
A taxonomic group comprising frogs and toads.
Did you know?The name comes from Latin salīre, “to leap,” the same root behind words for springing back, rushing upon someone, and verbally attacking them.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sal-
“A reconstructed root associated with leaping or jumping, though details of its prehistory remain debated.”
Classical Latin
Latin
salīre
“To leap, jump, or spring.”
Classical Latin
Latin
saliēns
“Leaping or jumping; the present participle of salīre.”
Classical Latin
Latin
salientia
“Leaping things or those that leap; the neuter plural of saliēns.”
1768
Scientific Latin
Salientia
“A zoological grouping named for frogs and toads, animals characterized by powerful jumping.”
Modern English
English
Salientia
“A taxonomic clade containing living frogs and toads, commonly used in zoology and evolutionary biology.”