Sphenisciform Seabird (Noun)
Meaning
Flightless cold-water seabirds: penguins.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The great auk, now extinct, is another example of a sphenisciform seabird that exhibited flightlessness similar to that of penguins.
- Sphenisciform seabirds, such as penguins, use their wings to maneuver in water, rather than in the air.
- In terms of appearance and behavior, the other sphenisciform seabirds are most similar to penguins, although some have certain distinct features.
- Researchers are studying the fossils of extinct sphenisciform seabirds that once inhabited the same cold-water ecosystems as penguins.
- Historically, the term sphenisciform seabird has been used specifically to refer to penguins, but modern classification schemes encompass other similar bird species as well.