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Glite Dictionary
family Phaethontidae

family Phaethontidae

9.9
A group of seabirds called tropicbirds with long tail feathers found in tropical oceans
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : familia Phaethontidae
  • The family Phaethontidae is easily recognized by the birds' long, slender tail feathers.

Examples

  • All tropicbird species belong to the avian family Phaethontidae.

  • Scientists study the family Phaethontidae to understand seabird adaptation to tropical environments.

  • The family Phaethontidae includes beautiful seabirds.

  • Many species from the family Phaethontidae are known for their striking plumage.

  • Tropicbirds from the family Phaethontidae are known for their vibrant colors and long tails.

  • Wildlife enthusiasts often travel to tropical regions to observe the family Phaethontidae in their natural habitat.

  • Researchers have classified several species under the family Phaethontidae based on their distinctive features.

Synonyms

Phaethontidae
vsfamily Phaethontidae
  • Specialized
9.9

A family of large tropical seabirds with long tail feathers and mostly white feathers

is the common English description rather than the formal taxonomic term
tropicbird
vsfamily Phaethontidae
8.7

A mostly white sea bird with webbed feet and long tail feathers that lives far from land

is the larger taxonomic group that includes these seabirds

Surface Forms

family Phaethontidae singular
families Phaethontidae plural

Morphology

family + Phaethontidae

The phrase is fully compositional: 'family' (a scientific grouping) combined with 'Phaethontidae' (the name of a seabird group) directly yields the meaning 'the taxonomic family called Phaethontidae.' While the Latin name is specialized and may be unfamiliar to many B1 learners, if they know both constituents the construction follows standard scientific naming and is immediately interpretable.

Etymology

Family Phaethontidae comes from the Greek myth name Phaethon, which means 'shining'. These sea birds have long, bright tail feathers that look like sun rays, so the name is used for the group of 'tropicbirds' with long tails.