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Aegypiidae

Aegypiidae

9.9
A group of large vultures from Europe, Africa, and Asia that eat dead animals
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Aegypiidae
  • The Aegypiidae family includes several species of vultures.

Examples

  • Members of the family Aegypiidae are primarily found in Africa and Eurasia.

  • The Aegypiidae are distinguished from New World vultures by their lack of a keen sense of smell.

  • Some ornithologists still classify Old World vultures under the family Aegypiidae.

  • Unlike their American relatives, members of the Aegypiidae have strong feet adapted for walking.

  • Did you know that Aegypiidae are known for their scavenging habits?

  • Some ornithologists still classify Old World vultures under the family Aegypiidae.

  • The Aegypiidae are distinguished from New World vultures by their lack of a keen sense of smell.

Surface Forms

Aegypiidae singular
Aegypiidae plural

Morphology

Aegypiidae = Aegypius (opaque) = Aegypius + idae

The suffix '-idae' is a specialized scientific taxonomic ending meaning 'family' and is not transparent to average learners.

Etymology

Aegypiidae comes from an old Greek word aigypios, which means 'vulture'. So the name simply means the family of Old World vultures.