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Glite Dictionary
family Sagittariidae

family Sagittariidae

9.9
A group of large ground birds that hunt animals in Africa and are called secretary birds
  • noun
  • Specialized
: familia Sagittariidae
  • The family Sagittariidae consists of just a single extant species, the secretary bird.

Examples

  • Unlike most raptors, the family Sagittariidae is adapted for walking long distances in search of prey.

  • Birdwatchers in Africa are often excited to see members of the family Sagittariidae stalking through grasslands.

  • The family Sagittariidae includes some of the largest birds of prey.

  • Did you know the family Sagittariidae is native to Africa?

  • Birdwatchers in Africa are often excited to see members of the family Sagittariidae stalking through grasslands.

  • The family Sagittariidae consists of just a single extant species, the secretary bird.

  • Unlike most raptors, the family Sagittariidae is adapted for walking long distances in search of prey.

Synonyms

Sagittariidae
vsfamily Sagittariidae
  • Specialized
9.9

A family of large African birds that hunt on the ground and have long legs, including the secretary bird

focuses on the same family but emphasizes native sub-Saharan range

How Large

phylum
  • Specialized
4 8.7
class
∞ 1.8
order
  • Specialized
7 7.5
family Sagittariidae
  • Specialized
9.9
genus
  • Specialized
20 7.1
species
  • Specialized
928 2.7

Surface Forms

family Sagittariidae singular
families Sagittariidae plural

Morphology

family + Sagittariidae

The structure 'family + Sagittariidae' is compositionally transparent in that 'family' signals a taxonomic grouping, so learners can infer it denotes a biological family. However, 'Sagittariidae' is a Latin taxonomic name that is not semantically decomposable for a B1 learner, so the precise referent (secretary birds) is not predictable from the parts.

Etymology

Family Sagittariidae comes from the common name secretary bird. One popular story says people thought the long feathers on the bird's head looked like old quill pens that secretaries tucked behind their ears, and that strong image helps you remember this family of large, ground-walking African birds of prey.