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Definition 2024


opisthocomid

opisthocomid

English

Opisthocomids (hoazins)

Noun

opisthocomid (plural opisthocomids)

  1. (zoology, ornithology) Any bird of the family Opisthocomidae, which comprises the hoazin and extinct relatives.
    • 1992, Kenneth E. Campbell (editor), Papers in Avian Paleontology: Honoring Pierce Brodkorb, page 135,
      Miller (1953) described an avian cranium from the Miocene of Colombia as an opisthocomid, Hoazinoides magdalenae.
    • 1995, Acta palaeornithologica: 3, Symposium SAPE: 5, Internationale Senckenberg-Konferenz, 22-26, Juni 1992, page 72,
      All other birds thought to be primitive [e.g. cuculiforms, opisthocomids, coraciiforms, musophagids, gruiforms (including the Cariarmidae), etc.] have definitive and often quite small feather tracts.
    • 2007, Gary W. Kaiser, The Inner Bird: Anatomy and Evolution, page 177,
      Some of the other placements are so startling that Livezey and Zusi are unconvinced by their own results (e.g., opisthocomids [Hoatzin], steatornithids [Oilbirds] phoenicopterids [flamingos], and many of the smaller forest birds).

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