Notornis mantelli
- noun
- Specialized
- The Notornis mantelli, also known as the takahē, has become a symbol of conservation efforts in New Zealand.
Examples
-
The once-thought-extinct Notornis mantelli was rediscovered in New Zealand in 1948.
-
The Notornis mantelli is distinguished by its vivid blue and green plumage.
-
Efforts to conserve the endangered Notornis mantelli have increased public awareness of New Zealand's unique fauna.
-
The Notornis mantelli is a unique bird found only in New Zealand.
-
Have you ever seen a Notornis mantelli in the wild?
-
Efforts to breed the Notornis mantelli in captivity have successfully increased its population.
-
Visitors to New Zealand often seek to see the Notornis mantelli, a flightless bird endemic to the country.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A large flightless bird from New Zealand with bright blue and green feathers
A large rare bird from New Zealand that cannot fly
Surface Forms
Morphology
Notornis + mantelli
This is a Latin binomial: knowing 'Notornis' (a bird genus) allows a learner to infer this is a species of that bird, so there is a partial compositional cue. However the species epithet 'mantelli' is an arbitrary/commemorative label with no lexical meaning, and the specific traits (large, flightless, takahē-like) are not derivable from the parts, so full meaning cannot be predicted.
Etymology
Notornis mantelli comes from two name parts: Notornis and mantelli. One popular story says Notornis uses old words for 'southern bird' and mantelli honors the scientist Mantell who studied New Zealand animals, so the full name reminds us of the large, flightless bird known as the takahē.