ratite

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rat·ite

(răt′īt′)

adj.

Relating to or being any of a group of flightless birds having a flat breastbone without the keellike prominence characteristic of most flying birds.

A ratite bird, such as the ostrich or emu.

[From Latin ratītus, marked with the figure of a raft (in reference to the lack of the keellike prominence), from ratis, raft.]

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.

ratite

(ˈrætaɪt)

adj

1. (Zoology) (of flightless birds) having a breastbone that lacks a keel for the attachment of flight muscles

2. (Zoology) of or denoting the flightless birds, formerly classified as a group (the Ratitae), that have a flat breastbone, feathers lacking vanes, and reduced wings

3. (Animals) a bird, such as an ostrich, kiwi, or rhea, that belongs to this group; a flightless bird

4. (Zoology) a bird, such as an ostrich, kiwi, or rhea, that belongs to this group; a flightless bird

[C19: from Latin ratis raft]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

rat•ite

(ˈræt aɪt)

adj.

1. having a flat, unkeeled sternum, as an ostrich, cassowary, emu, or moa.

2. a bird having a ratite sternum.

[1875–80; < Latin rat(is) raft + -ite²]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun

ratite - flightless birds having flat breastbones lacking a keel for attachment of flight muscles: ostriches; cassowaries; emus; moas; rheas; kiwis; elephant birds

flightless bird, ratite bird

bird - warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

Struthio camelus, ostrich - fast-running African flightless bird with two-toed feet; largest living bird

cassowary - large black flightless bird of Australia and New Guinea having a horny head crest

Dromaius novaehollandiae, Emu novaehollandiae, emu - large Australian flightless bird similar to the ostrich but smaller

apteryx, kiwi - nocturnal flightless bird of New Zealand having a long neck and stout legs; only surviving representative of the order Apterygiformes

Rhea americana, rhea - larger of two tall fast-running flightless birds similar to ostriches but three-toed; found from Brazil to Patagonia

nandu, Pterocnemia pennata, rhea - smaller of two tall fast-running flightless birds similar to ostriches but three-toed; found from Peru to Strait of Magellan

aepyornis, elephant bird - huge (to 9 ft.) extinct flightless bird of Madagascar

moa - extinct flightless bird of New Zealand

carinate, carinate bird, flying bird - birds having keeled breastbones for attachment of flight muscles

References in periodicals archive ?

This is a book that would appeal not only to fans of honeyguides, corvids, vultures, eagles, hawks, owls, linnets (house finches), penguins, chickens, hummingbirds, zebra finches, chickadees, egrets, flycatchers, waterfowl, starlings, bluebirds, ratites, pheasants, or any of the other myriad birds described in the book, but also to anyone who wants to learn more about birds and their roles in our lives.

THE WONDER OF BIRDS: What They Tell Us about Ourselves, the World, and a Better Future

Patologia de Avestruces y otras Ratites. Madrid, Ediciones Mundi-Prensa, 2000.

Descripcion Histologica del Aparato Reproductor de Avestruz Hembra (Strutio camelus var. domesticus)

Louis encephalomyelitis virus and surveillance for encephalomyelitis cases among equids, ratites (e.g., emus, ostriches), and humans.

Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus infection in a horse from California. (Research)

It also covers (in no intelligible order) the fossil record for various subgroups such as doves and parrots and presents detailed arguments regarding the anatomical structure and phylogeny of ratites. The chapter on raptors (Birds of Prey) is mercifully short and better organized.

The Origin and Evolution of Birds

Livestock guardians are used to protect sheep, goats, ratites and other stock from predators.

Livestock guardian dogs: introduction, and a summary of training advice

For instance, we might find biologists saying the 'function of the speculum-flashing display in mallards is preening, but now it is used as a mating display'.(5) It would also be reasonable to say 'the function of ratites' wings is flight, but they are no longer able to use them for flight'.

Fitness and function

Five years ago, ratites (emus, ostrich, rheas) were all selling at high prices.

'And on that farm he hand an emu....' (overbreeding of alternative livestock)

(2-5) These deformities, particularly rotational deformities of the long bones, affect various avian species, including ostriches (Struthio camelus), chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, psittacine birds, ratites, cranes, waterfowl, and bustards (Chlamydotis undulata).

Repair of tibiotarsal rotation in 7 Chukar partridges (alectoris chukar) and 12 domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) with type-2 external skeletal fixator intramedullary pin tie-in

* The internal temperature of ratites (such as ostriches) must now reach 68A[degrees]C (155A[degrees]F) for 15 seconds.

Focus On Prevention

451 [section][section] et seq.), FSIS is required to inspect "any domesticated bird" being processed for human consumption; however, USDA regulations implementing this law limit the definition of domesticated birds to chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, ratites (emus, ostriches, and rheas), and guineas.

The federal food safety system: a primer

According to a report by ABC News, the finding by Australian National University (ANU) biologist Dr Matthew Phillips and colleagues at Massey University in New Zealand, follows on from recent work that raised uncertainty about the "single ancestor" theory of the group of flightless birds, known as ratites.