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Glite Dictionary
Sagittariidae

Sagittariidae

9.9
A family of large African birds that hunt on the ground and have long legs, including the secretary bird
  • noun
  • /sædʒɪˈtɛriˌaɪdi/
  • Specialized
: Sagittariidae
  • The secretary bird is the only living species in the family Sagittariidae.

Examples

  • Unlike most raptors, members of the Sagittariidae family hunt primarily on foot.

  • The Sagittariidae are distinguished by their long legs and unique hunting behavior in the African savannas.

  • Look at that Sagittariidae!

  • The Sagittariidae is known for its unique hunting style.

  • The Sagittariidae is famous for its ability to kill snakes while hunting in the grasslands of Africa.

  • The secretary bird, a member of the Sagittariidae family, can often be seen stalking its prey.

  • With their long legs and sharp eyesight, Sagittariidae birds excel in hunting insects and small mammals.

Synonyms

family Sagittariidae
vsSagittariidae
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of large ground birds that hunt animals in Africa and are called secretary birds

notes the family contains only one species rather than many

Surface Forms

Sagittariidae singular
Sagittariidaes plural

Morphology

Sagittariidae = Sagittarius (opaque) = sagittari + idae

Formed from a genus name plus the technical taxonomic suffix '-idae'; this formation and meaning (a biological family) are unlikely to be predictable to an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Sagittariidae comes from the Latin Sagittarius, meaning 'archer', and from sagitta meaning 'arrow'. So the family name suggests an 'archer', a fitting image for the secretary bird that hunts on the ground with quick, precise strikes.