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Glite Dictionary
Aepyorniformes

Aepyorniformes

9.9
Huge birds from Madagascar called elephant birds that could not fly and are now extinct
  • noun
  • /ˌiːpiːɔːrnɪˈfɔːrmiːz/
  • Specialized
: aepiorniformes
  • Madagascar was once home to the gigantic Aepyorniformes, also known as elephant birds.

Examples

  • Scientists discovered eggs belonging to Aepyorniformes during their excavation.

  • Did you know that Aepyorniformes were the largest birds ever?

  • The extinction of the Aepyorniformes greatly altered Madagascar's ecosystem.

  • The Aepyorniformes lived on Madagascar millions of years ago.

  • Madagascar was once home to the gigantic Aepyorniformes, also known as elephant birds.

  • Scientists discovered eggs belonging to Aepyorniformes during their excavation.

  • The extinction of the Aepyorniformes greatly altered Madagascar's ecosystem.

Synonyms

family Aepyornidae
vsAepyorniformes
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of very large extinct flightless birds from Madagascar called elephant birds

is the equivalent group but named at the order taxonomic level

Surface Forms

Aepyorniformes singular
Aepyorniformes plural

Morphology

Aepyorniformes = Aepyornis (opaque) = Aepyornis + iformes

This is a technical taxonomic formation based on the genus name Aepyornis plus the order-forming suffix -iformes, which is not readily inferable for average learners.

Etymology

Aepyorniformes comes from Greek parts aepy- meaning 'high' and -ornis meaning 'bird'. These were huge, flightless birds from Madagascar, so the name helps you remember they were 'very big birds' often called elephant birds.