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Glite Dictionary
Turnicidae

Turnicidae

9.9
Small birds called buttonquails from Africa, Europe, and Asia that look like quail but are not related to them
  • noun
  • Specialized
: Turnicidae
  • Members of the Turnicidae family are often mistaken for true quail due to their similar appearance.

Examples

  • The Turnicidae family includes several species of buttonquails.

  • Unlike quail, Turnicidae exhibit unusual breeding habits where females compete for mates.

  • Researchers discovered a new species within the Turnicidae in Southeast Asia.

  • In Africa, Turnicidae can often be seen in grasslands.

  • The Turnicidae family consists of small birds known for their quail-like appearance.

  • Bird watchers often seek out the Turnicidae because of their unique behavior and appearance.

  • Conservation efforts are focusing on the Turnicidae, which inhabit various ecosystems across the Old World.

Surface Forms

Turnicidae singular
Turnicidae plural

Morphology

Turnicidae = Turnix (opaque) = Turnix + idae

The suffix '-idae' is a specialized scientific taxonomic ending meaning 'family' and is not a productive or familiar morpheme for average learners, so the relation is not guessable from the parts.

Etymology

Turnicidae comes from the bird genus Turnix, which is a shortened form of the Latin coturnix meaning 'quail'. So Turnicidae are the buttonquail family, small birds that look like true quail but are not closely related.