Definition

Noun: * A taxonomic genus containing only the mallee fowl (Leipoa ocellata): This is a monotypic genus, meaning it contains only one species. It refers to the biological classification of a large, ground-dwelling bird native to Australia, known for building large nesting mounds.

Usage Notes

• Scientific Classification: This term is used primarily in scientific, zoological, or ornithological contexts. It is a formal, technical term for categorizing this specific bird within the biological taxonomy (Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Galliformes, Family: Megapodiidae).
• Capitalization: In biological nomenclature, the genus name is always capitalized and italicized: or simply .

Examples of Usage

• Scientific Context:
  • The unique incubation habits of the bird in genus Leipoa have been extensively studied.
  • Ornithologists classify the mallee fowl within the monotypic genus Leipoa.

Advanced Usage

• Monotypic Genus: The term can be used to highlight that is a genus with only one extant species.
  • Genus Leipoa is a classic example of a monotypic genus among megapodes.

Variants and Related Words

• Leipoa (n): The abbreviated form of the genus name, commonly used in the binomial name .
• mallee fowl (n): The common name for the bird species .
• megapode (n): The common name for the family (Megapodiidae) to which this genus belongs, all known as mound-builders.
• incubator bird (n): Another common name for birds in the megapode family, referring to their mound-nesting behavior.

Synonyms

• Leipoa (n): The genus name itself is the primary synonym in scientific usage.
• (The) mallee fowl genus (n): A descriptive synonym in plain language.

Related Terms (Biological Context)

• Species Leipoa ocellata (n): The full scientific name (binomial nomenclature) for the mallee fowl.
• Family Megapodiidae (n): The taxonomic family containing and other mound-building birds.
• Monotypic (adj): Describing a taxonomic group that contains only one immediately subordinate group (e.g., a genus with only one species).

Noun

1. mallee fowl