Definition

1. Noun:
   • Family Phaethontidae: A taxonomic family of seabirds commonly known as tropicbirds. These are elegant, predominantly white birds with long central tail streamers, found in tropical oceans worldwide.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The family Phaethontidae includes three extant species of tropicbirds.
  • Ornithologists study the feeding habits of the family Phaethontidae.

Advanced Usage

• In taxonomic hierarchy: Used in scientific and academic contexts to classify a specific group of birds within the order Phaethontiformes.
  • The proposal was to re-examine the placement of the family Phaethontidae within the avian phylogenetic tree.

Variants and Related Words

• Phaethontidae: The standardized scientific name for the family; often used interchangeably without "family."
• Tropicbird (common name): Refers to any individual bird species within this family, such as the Red-billed Tropicbird ().
• Phaethon: The type genus for the family Phaethontidae.

Synonyms

• Tropicbirds: The common English name for the birds comprising this family.

Notes on Meaning

This term has a single, specific meaning in scientific classification (taxonomy). It is not used in general conversation but is essential in fields like ornithology, biology, and ecology.

Noun

1. tropicbirds