yellowbellied

Yellowbellied is a descriptive term used in English to denote an animal or object with a yellow underside or abdomen, and it can also appear in place-name or nickname usage. In zoological contexts, it is most often part of a common name rather than a scientific designation, highlighting the yellow ventral coloration of the subject.

The phrase also functions as an idiom in English. When written as yellow-bellied, it is commonly used as a pejorative meaning cowardly or lacking courage. The term has historical usage in literature and speech as a straightforward color-based insult, distinct from any formal taxonomy.

Several well-known species carry the yellow-bellied name in their common designation. The yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) is a woodpecker native to parts of North America. The yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris) is a large ground-dwelling rodent found in the western United States and Canada. The yellow-bellied slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) is a subspecies of pond slider found in the southeastern United States. In each case, the epithet reflects a notable yellow coloration on the ventral side.

See also entries for yellow-belly (disambiguation) and other animal common names featuring color-based descriptors may provide additional examples.