lesser spotted

English

Adjective

lesser spotted (not comparable)

1. (humorous) Part of the name of some (often fictional) species of animal, used as a placeholder for some obscure species that is of little interest or importance.

   She's traipsed off to Borneo to see the lesser spotted pygmy owl, or something like that.

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see lesser,‎ spotted.

Usage notes

A common misconception is that the term refers to a species of animal that is less often seen when in the wild, but (other than in a humorous context) the two words act as independent adjectives.