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Glite Dictionary
🦋 A large butterfly 🦋 A butterfly genus
Ornithoptera

Ornithoptera

9.9
A group of very large bright butterflies from New Guinea and nearby islands
  • proper noun
  • Australian
translation icon : Ornithoptera
  • The Ornithoptera is beautiful.
  • Ornithoptera croesus

Examples

  • Many species within the Ornithoptera genus are protected due to their declining populations.

  • Collectors often seek rare specimens of Ornithoptera for their impressive size and beauty.

  • The male Ornithoptera displays brilliant green and gold colors in the sunlight.

  • Look, an Ornithoptera!

  • The Ornithoptera butterfly is known for its stunningly vibrant wings and large size.

  • During our trip to Australia, we were amazed to see the Ornithoptera fluttering around the tropical flowers.

  • Ornithoptera species are often considered among the most beautiful butterflies in the world.

Synonyms

butterfly
vsOrnithoptera
160 1.0

A small insect with a thin body and bright wings that flies in daylight

is a specific large, vividly colored genus native to Australasia
lepidopterous insect
vsOrnithoptera
  • Specialized
8.0

An insect with two pairs of wings covered with tiny scales like butterflies and moths

is a narrower regional genus of large vividly colored species

Surface Forms

Ornithoptera main

Morphology

Ornithoptera = ornitho + ptera

The name is formed from Greek combining forms used in taxonomy rather than productive English morphemes, so its meaning is not transparently derivable by typical learners.

Etymology

The name Ornithoptera is built from Greek parts ornitho- meaning 'bird' and -ptera meaning 'wing'. So the group name means 'bird-wing', which fits these big, colorful butterflies known for their strong, bird-like wings.