Megapodiidae

plural noun

Mega·​po·​di·​idae
: a family of gallinaceous birds inhabiting Australia and neighboring islands north and east to the Philippines and Ladrones and known for their habit of heaping up a mass of vegetable debris in which their eggs are laid and hatched compare brush turkey, leipoa, maleo

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Megapodius, type genus + -idae

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Dictionary Entries Near Megapodiidae

Cite this Entry

“Megapodiidae.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Megapodiidae. Accessed 19 Dec. 2024.

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