Struthioniformes (Noun)
Meaning
A ratite bird order: ostriches and related extinct birds; known from the Pleistocene onward.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The order Struthioniformes includes large, flightless birds such as ostriches, emus, and kiwis, as well as their extinct relatives.
- Struthioniformes is a diverse group of ratite birds that originated during the Paleocene epoch but did not radiate until the Pleistocene.
- Paleontologists have identified several extinct species within the Struthioniformes order, including the giant elephant bird of Madagascar.
- Fossil records indicate that the ancestors of modern Struthioniformes likely originated in the Southern Hemisphere during the Paleocene epoch.
- Comparative analysis of Struthioniformes reveals that the kiwi, although much smaller, shares a common ancestor with the massive ostrich and other large ratites.