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Glite Dictionary
Steatornithidae

Steatornithidae

9.9
A family of night birds that eat fruit and use sound to find their way in caves
  • noun
  • /ˌsteɪəˈtɔrnɪˌθɪdeɪ/
  • Specialized
: Steatornithidae
  • Researchers have observed that the Steatornithidae use echolocation to find fruit in dark caves.

Examples

  • The Steatornithidae are unique among birds for their ability to navigate by echolocation in darkness.

  • The family Steatornithidae consists of a single extant species, the oilbird.

  • Scientists have studied the Steatornithidae to understand their adaptation to cave-dwelling life.

  • The Steatornithidae family includes fascinating birds.

  • Many species of Steatornithidae are found in the Amazon rainforest.

  • The Steatornithidae, commonly known as oilbirds, are fascinating for their unique adaptation to their nocturnal lifestyle.

  • In South America, the Steatornithidae family is distinguished by its distinctive feeding habits and habitat.

Surface Forms

Steatornithidae singular
Steatornithidaes plural

Morphology

Steatornithidae = Steatornis (opaque) = steato + ornith + idae

The family name is transparently formed by adding the taxonomic suffix '-idae' to the genus name 'Steatornis', but the genus name itself is a scientific proper name unfamiliar to average learners.

Etymology

Steatornithidae comes from Greek parts steato- meaning 'fat' or 'oil' and ornith- meaning 'bird', plus the family ending -idae. So the name literally says 'oil birds', which fits these night birds that eat oily fruit and use sound to find their way in dark caves.