Ratite

Word RATITE
Character 6
Hyphenation rat ite
Pronunciations /ˈɹætaɪt/

Definitions and meanings of "Ratite"

What do we mean by ratite?

Relating to or being any of a group of flightless birds having a flat breastbone without the keellike prominence characteristic of most flying birds. adjective

A ratite bird, such as the ostrich or emu. noun

Raft-breasted, as a bird; having a flat breast-bone or sternum with no keel; having no keel, as a breast-bone; ecarinate; of or pertaining to the.

Of or pertaining to the Ratitæ. adjective

A bird of the order of Struthioniformes, a diverse group of large running, flightless birds, mostly extinct, but including the cassowary, elephant bird, emu, kiwi, moa, ostrich, rhea and tinamou noun

Flightless birds having flat breastbones lacking a keel for attachment of flight muscles: ostriches; cassowaries; emus; moas; rheas; kiwis; elephant birds noun

A bird of the order of Struthioniformes, a diverse group of large running, flightless birds, mostly extinct, but including the cassowary, elephant bird, emu, kiwi, moa, ostrich, rhea and tinamou

Synonyms and Antonyms for Ratite

  • Synonyms for ratite
  • Ratite synonyms not found!!!

The word "ratite" in example sentences

Given that a few other Eocene European tetrapods have been suggested to be particularly closely related to South American taxa (namely the ratite Palaeotis, the peradectine opossums and the supposed anteater Eurotamandua), Ameghinornis and Aenigmavis were thought to perhaps indicate that phorusrhacids had originated in Europe and later spread (via Africa) to South America (Peters & Storch 1993). ❋ Darren Naish (2006)

Palaeotis, a small ratite argued by some to be a stem rhea, has more recently been found to be outside of the clade that includes rheas, ostriches, cassowaries and emus. ❋ Darren Naish (2006)

But the ratite lineage in general, with its heritage of gigantism and flightlessness, is relictual on Australia, New Guinea, and New Zealand and was until recently on Madagascar, having held out in those places while long ago disappearing from the mainlands. ❋ David Quammen (2004)

So the ratite lineage combines aspects of both endemism and relictualism—endemism at the level of species, relictualism at the level of the group. ❋ David Quammen (2004)

Only a few naturalists of the last century came to grips with any of the ratite questions. ❋ David Quammen (2004)

The ostrich is an exception, a ratite that inhabits the African mainland. ❋ David Quammen (2004)

But the ratite family, from large ostriches to small kiwis, were thought to be the exception to this rule. ❋ Unknown (2011)

This giant Moa (Dinornis giganteus) a member of the ratite family (the same family as the kiwi, emus and ostriches) and met its demise around the 13th century. ❋ Unknown (2010)

The findings are also consistent with living members of the ratite family, such as the kiwi, emu, and cassowary, in which the male is responsible for incubation. ❋ Unknown (2010)

"Not only have we shown that the separate ratite lineages evolved too recently to have been on Gondwana before its continents drifted apart, but from our analyses we infer that at least ostriches, and possibly ratites as a whole, have their origins in the northern continents." ❋ Unknown (2010)

If you've no idea what a Great bustard is like, imagine a long-legged, long-necked omnivorous bird something like a cross between a crane and a small ratite ... or, look at the picture here. ❋ Darren Naish [email protected] (2010)

Cross Reference for Ratite

  • Ratite cross reference not found!

What does ratite mean?

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