Meaning & use
ratite
Last updated
any of a group of large, flightless birds, such as the ostrich, emu, and kiwi, that lack a keeled breastbone for flight muscles.
See it in a sentence
The ostrich is the largest living ratite.
Ratite birds evolved strong legs for running instead of wings for flying.
A note on using this word
Contrasted with 'carinate' birds, which have a keeled breastbone and can fly; ratites are found mainly in the Southern Hemisphere.
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