Palaeognathae

plural noun

Palae·​og·​na·​thae

ˌpālēˈägnəˌthē,

ˌpal-

in some especially former classifications

: a superorder of the subclass Neornithes comprising birds with a primitive reptilian type of palate that are now usually included in Neognathae

palaeognathic

¦⸗⸗əg¦nathik

adjective

or palaeognathous

¦⸗⸗¦ägnəthəs

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from pale- + -gnathae

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