pelecaniform seabird
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun A large, fish-eating seabird characterized by having all four toes connected by webbing. This anatomical feature distinguishes it from other seabirds and aids in powerful swimming.
Usage
This is a specific zoological term used to classify and describe a particular order of birds. It is primarily used in scientific, academic, or bird-watching contexts.
Examples
- The pelecaniform seabird uses its webbed feet for efficient propulsion in water.
- Pelicans, boobies, and cormorants are all classified as pelecaniform seabirds.
- Ornithologists study the migratory patterns of various pelecaniform seabirds.
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in contrast to other seabird orders, such as (gulls, auks) or (penguins), which have different foot structures.
- In ecological studies, the health of a pelecaniform seabird population can be an indicator of the abundance of fish stocks.
Variants and Related Words
- Pelecaniformes: The biological order name to which these birds belong.
- Totipalmate: An adjective describing the specific foot morphology where all four toes are webbed, a defining trait of pelecaniform seabirds.
Synonyms
- Totipalmate bird: A more technical synonym emphasizing the foot structure.
- There is no common, everyday synonym for this precise taxonomic group.
Related Phrases/Idioms
This is a scientific term and is not used in idiomatic expressions.
Noun
- large fish-eating seabird with four-toed webbed feet