How Do You Spell APTERIUM?

Pronunciation: [aptˈi͡əɹɪəm] (IPA)

Apteryx is a genus of birds found only in New Zealand. They are commonly known as kiwis. Apteryx is the root word of "apterium", meaning a featherless area of a bird's body (such as the wingpits). The IPA phonetic transcription of "apterium" is /æpˈtɪərɪəm/. The letter "a" is pronounced as "æ", the "t" at the end of the root word is retained, and "ium" is added as a suffix. This spelling indicates that the word is derived from Latin.

APTERIUM Meaning and Definition

1. An apterium is a term used in biology to describe a specific anatomical feature found in certain bird species. It refers to a small area of the body where feathers are absent, primarily on the wings or flanks. The word "apterium" is derived from the Greek words "a-" meaning "without" and "pteron" meaning "wing."

   The apterium is typically a narrow strip of skin where feathers do not grow, showcasing bare skin or scales instead. It is most commonly found in flightless birds, such as penguins and ostriches, where the reduced need for flight feathers on the wings has led to the evolution of this unique characteristic. In these species, the apteria serve as areas for heat regulation, allowing direct contact between the bird's body and the external environment.

   The absence of feathers in these areas enables better heat exchange, allowing the bird to cool down or warm up based on the surrounding temperatures. Additionally, the apterium may also provide a streamlined profile, reducing drag during aquatic locomotion or walking on land.

   While apteria are primarily associated with flightless species, some flying birds also possess small apteria on their wings or flanks. The presence of these bare patches may allow for faster wing movement, benefiting birds involved in high-speed maneuvering during flight.

   In summary, an apterium is a specialized area without feathers found in certain bird species that assists with temperature regulation, efficiency of movement, or both.

Common Misspellings for APTERIUM

• zpterium
• spterium
• wpterium
• qpterium
• aoterium
• alterium
• a0terium
• aprerium
• apferium
• apgerium
• apyerium
• ap6erium
• ap5erium
• aptwrium
• aptsrium
• aptdrium
• aptrrium
• apt4rium
• apt3rium
• apteeium

Etymology of APTERIUM

The word apterium originates from the Latin term apterium, which itself is derived from the Greek word apteron. Apteron consists of two parts: a meaning without and pteron meaning wing. Therefore, apterium in Latin means without wings.

Plural form of APTERIUM is APTERIA