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Glite Dictionary
Himantopus novae-zelandiae

Himantopus novae-zelandiae

9.9
A rare mostly black wading bird from New Zealand with very long legs
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Himantopus novae-zelandiae
  • Unlike its relatives, the Himantopus novae-zelandiae is distinguished by its mostly black plumage.

Examples

  • The Himantopus novae-zelandiae is one of the world's rarest wading birds, with only a few individuals remaining in the wild.

  • Efforts to save the Himantopus novae-zelandiae have included captive breeding and habitat restoration.

  • The Himantopus novae-zelandiae is a rare bird.

  • I spotted a Himantopus novae-zelandiae near the wetlands.

  • The Himantopus novae-zelandiae stands out with its striking black feathers against the lush greens of its wetland habitat.

  • As a rare species, the Himantopus novae-zelandiae is protected under New Zealand's wildlife conservation laws.

  • Birdwatchers travel to New Zealand hoping to catch a glimpse of the elusive Himantopus novae-zelandiae in its natural environment.

Synonyms

kaki
vsHimantopus novae-zelandiae
  • New Zealand
9.9

A rare black bird from New Zealand that walks in shallow water on long legs

is the same taxon but shown with an alternative scientific spelling

Surface Forms

Himantopus novae-zelandiae singular
Himantopus novae-zelandiae plural

Morphology

Himantopus + novae-zelandiae

This is a scientific binomial combining the genus Himantopus (wading birds) with the Latin epithet novae-zelandiae ('of New Zealand'), so the overall meaning—a Himantopus from New Zealand—is directly derivable from its parts. The name is compositional and non-idiomatic, following cross-linguistic taxonomic conventions, so a learner who knows both constituents would understand it.

Etymology

Himantopus novae-zelandiae gets its name from old Greek and the place 'New Zealand': Himantopus comes from words meaning 'strap' and 'foot', and novae-zelandiae shows the bird is from 'New Zealand'. So, imagine very long, thin legs like straps — that picture explains why the name fits this rare New Zealand stilt.