Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Opisthocomus hoazin

Opisthocomus hoazin

9.9
A South American bird with a crest and a strong smell whose young have claws on their wing fingers
  • noun
  • /ˌɑːpɪsˈθoʊkəməs ˈhwɑːzɪn/
  • Specialized
: hoatzin
  • Unlike any other bird, young Opisthocomus hoazin have claws on their wings to help them climb.

Examples

  • The Opisthocomus hoazin is found in swamps and mangroves along the Amazon and Orinoco rivers.

  • The Opisthocomus hoazin has a distinct odor that some find unpleasant.

  • The diet of the Opisthocomus hoazin consists mainly of leaves and vegetation.

  • The Opisthocomus hoazin is known for its unique appearance.

  • The Opisthocomus hoazin is found in swamps and mangroves along the Amazon and Orinoco rivers.

  • The diet of the Opisthocomus hoazin consists mainly of leaves and vegetation.

  • Unlike any other bird, young Opisthocomus hoazin have claws on their wings to help them climb.

Synonyms

hoatzin
vsOpisthocomus hoazin
1 9.9

A South American bird with a crest, a strong smell, and claws on its chicks' wings

is the scientific formal name for the same bird
hoactzin
vsOpisthocomus hoazin
  • Specialized
9.9

A South American crested bird with a strong smell whose chicks climb using wing claws

is the scientific formal name rather than the spelling variant
stinkbird
vsOpisthocomus hoazin
  • US
9.9

A South American bird with a crest and a strong bad smell whose young have claws on their wings

is the scientific formal name rather than the informal nickname

Surface Forms

Opisthocomus hoazin singular
Opisthocomus hoazins plural

Morphology

Opisthocomus + hoazin

This is a scientific binomial composed of a genus name (Opisthocomus) plus a species epithet (hoazin), so the phrase simply identifies a particular bird species rather than expressing an idiomatic or metaphorical meaning. Because the meaning is a straightforward taxonomic label built from its constituents (no semantic shift), a learner who knows the constituent terms would be able to understand it.

Etymology

Opisthocomus hoazin is a strange South American 'bird' known for a small crest and a strong smell. Its 'young' have claws on their wings that help them climb, and this odd picture helps explain why people remember and name this unusual bird.