aepyornis


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Related to aepyornis: Phorusrhacos

ae·py·or·nis

 (ē′pē-ôr′nĭs)
n.
A genus of extinct large flightless birds native to Madagascar.

[New Latin Aepyornīs, genus name : Greek aipus, high + Greek ornīs, bird; see or- in Indo-European roots.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

aepyornis

(ˌiːpɪˈɔːnɪs)
n
(Animals) any of the large extinct flightless birds of the genus Aepyornis, remains of which have been found in Madagascar
[C19: New Latin, from Greek aipus high + ornis bird]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ae•py•or•nis

(ˌi piˈɔr nɪs)
n.
an extinct, heavy-legged, ratite bird of the genus Aepyornis, of the Pleistocene Epoch, of Madagascar.
[< New Latin (1850) < Greek aipý(s) steep, lofty, + órnīs bird]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.aepyornis - huge (to 9 ft.) extinct flightless bird of Madagascaraepyornis - huge (to 9 ft.) extinct flightless bird of Madagascar
flightless bird, ratite, ratite bird - flightless birds having flat breastbones lacking a keel for attachment of flight muscles: ostriches; cassowaries; emus; moas; rheas; kiwis; elephant birds
genus Aepyornis - type genus of the Aepyornidae: elephant birds
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
References in periodicals archive ?
They had two genera previously recognised by scientists Aepyornis and Mullerornis, explains Sci-News
For 60 million years the colossal, flightless elephant bird -- Aepyornis maximus -- stalked the savannah and rainforests of Madagascar until it was hunted to extinction around 1,000 years ago.
Aepyornis maximus, known commonly as elephant birds, was found exclusively on the island of Madagascar up until 1,000 when the species became extent.