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Glite Dictionary
Tapiridae

Tapiridae

9.9
A group of animals that includes tapirs and their extinct relatives
  • noun
  • /ˌtæpɪˈrɪdeɪ/
  • Specialized
: Tapiridae
  • The family Tapiridae includes all living species of tapirs as well as their extinct relatives.

Examples

  • Members of Tapiridae are known for their distinctive, flexible snouts.

  • Fossils belonging to Tapiridae have been discovered in both the Old and New Worlds.

  • The Tapiridae family includes several unique species.

  • Did you know that the Tapiridae family is ancient?

  • The family Tapiridae has existed for millions of years, showcasing evolutionary history.

  • Researchers study the Tapiridae family to understand the adaptations of these unique animals.

  • Conservation efforts are essential to protect the species within Tapiridae, as they face habitat loss.

Surface Forms

Tapiridae singular
Tapiridaes plural

Morphology

Tapiridae = tapir (semi-transparent) = tapir + idae

The base 'tapir' is obvious, but the suffix '-idae' is a specialized scientific taxonomic ending that many learners will not know, so the familial meaning is only partially guessable.

Etymology

Tapiridae comes from the animal name tapir plus the family ending -idae, an ending scientists add to mean 'a family of' animals, as in Canidae 'dogs' and Felidae 'cats'. So Tapiridae simply means 'the family of tapirs', the group that includes all living and extinct tapirs.