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Glite Dictionary
Geococcyx californianus

Geococcyx californianus

9.9
A large bird that runs very fast on the ground, living in deserts of the southwestern United States and Mexico
  • noun
  • /ˌdʒiːoʊˈkɒkɪks ˌkælɪfɔˈneɪənəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Geococcyx californianus
  • Researchers observed a Geococcyx californianus darting across the desert in search of food.

Examples

  • The Geococcyx californianus is famously able to outrun many of its natural predators.

  • Have you ever seen a Geococcyx californianus in the wild?

  • In southwestern folklore, the Geococcyx californianus is often associated with speed and agility.

  • The Geococcyx californianus is known for its incredible speed.

  • Researchers observed a Geococcyx californianus darting across the desert in search of food.

  • In southwestern folklore, the Geococcyx californianus is often associated with speed and agility.

  • The Geococcyx californianus is famously able to outrun many of its natural predators.

Synonyms

roadrunner
vsGeococcyx californianus
  • US
7 4.6

A large ground-running bird with a long tail that lives in the deserts of the American Southwest and Mexico

is the scientific species name used rather than the common name
chaparral cock
vsGeococcyx californianus
  • Archaic
9.9

A fast ground bird called a roadrunner that lives in dry parts of the United States and Mexico

is the scientific species name rather than this regional label

Surface Forms

Geococcyx californianus singular
Geococcyx californianuses plural

Morphology

Geococcyx + californianus

This is a binomial scientific name formed from the genus Geococcyx (roadrunner) plus the Latin epithet californianus (of/from California); if a learner knows both constituents they can compositionally infer 'the roadrunner from California'. Taxonomic naming conventions using Latinized origin adjectives are regular and cross-linguistically recognizable, so the meaning is derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Geococcyx californianus comes from old Greek and Latin words: geo meaning 'earth', coccyx meaning 'cuckoo', and californianus meaning 'from California'. So the name helps you picture a cuckoo-like bird that lives and runs on the ground in the California region, which is why it refers to the fast, ground-running greater roadrunner today.