Harpia harpyja
- noun
- Specialized
:
Harpia harpyja
- The Harpia harpyja is among the largest and most powerful eagles in the world.
Examples
-
With its striking crest, the Harpia harpyja is often called the harpy eagle.
-
The Harpia harpyja is known for its impressive wingspan.
-
Researchers in Brazil are studying the habitat of the rare Harpia harpyja.
-
Did you know that the Harpia harpyja can weigh up to 10 kilograms?
-
The Harpia harpyja, also known as the harpy eagle, can be found in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America.
-
Conservation efforts are crucial for protecting the Harpia harpyja, a magnificent bird that plays a key role in its ecosystem.
-
Birdwatchers often travel to observe the Harpia harpyja, famed for its striking appearance and formidable hunting skills.
Synonyms
3
9.9
A very large and powerful eagle from tropical forests with a crest
1
8.4
A large black and white eagle with a feather crest that lives in tropical forests in Central and South America
Surface Forms
Morphology
Harpia + harpyja
This is a Linnaean binomial (genus + species): knowing 'Harpia' as a genus of powerful eagles lets a learner infer that Harpia harpyja is a type of eagle. However, the specific attributes in the definition (large, black-and-white, crested, tropical range) are not predictable from the constituent names (and the species epithet 'harpyja' is not transparently meaningful), so the relation is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Harpia harpyja may come from the old myth of the harpy, a fierce bird-woman that snatched people. Because this eagle is very big and has a strong crest, the people who named it thought it looked like that creature, so the name now means 'a large, powerful eagle'.