How Do You Spell DINORNIS?

Pronunciation: [dˈɪnɔːnˌiz] (IPA)

The word "Dinornis" is a genus of extinct birds that lived in New Zealand. The spelling of this word can be broken down phonetically as: /dɪˈnɔːr.nɪs/. The first syllable "di" is pronounced as "dih" and the second syllable "nor" is pronounced as "nawr". The final syllable "nis" is pronounced as "nihs". The "r" in the second syllable is pronounced to reflect the New Zealand accent which adds an "r" sound where English speakers from other countries would not. The correct pronunciation of "Dinornis" is vital in properly communicating information about these fascinating extinct birds.

DINORNIS Meaning and Definition

1. Dinornis, also known as the moa, refers to an extinct group of flightless birds that were endemic to the islands of New Zealand. The term "dinornis" is derived from the Greek words "deinos" meaning "terrible" and "ornis" meaning "bird," a name often given to large extinct birds.

   Dinornis were part of the family Dinornithidae and were characterized by their immense size and weight. They were some of the largest birds to have ever existed, with heights reaching up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) and weighing over 500 pounds (230 kilograms). The birds had long legs, stout bodies, and strong muscular wings, although these features were not sufficient for flight.

   These herbivorous birds thrived in diverse habitats, from dense forests to open grasslands, and played a crucial ecological role in the New Zealand ecosystem. It is believed that their extinction around 600 years ago was primarily caused by overhunting by Polynesian settlers and the loss of habitat due to forest clearance.

   Dinornis fossils have provided valuable insights into the evolutionary history of birds. They have contributed to our understanding of the adaptive radiation that occurred following the extinction of dinosaurs and have helped researchers reconstruct ancient ecosystems. The study of Dinornis has also shed light on the phenomena of gigantism and island dwarfism, providing important data in the field of evolutionary biology.

2. • A gigantic bird found in a sub-fossil state in New Zealand, having been a wingless bird of great size and strength-called the Moa by the natives.

   • See deinornis.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for DINORNIS

• sinornis
• xinornis
• cinornis
• finornis
• rinornis
• einornis
• dunornis
• djnornis
• dknornis
• donornis
• d9nornis
• d8nornis
• dibornis
• dimornis
• dijornis
• dihornis
• dinirnis
• dinkrnis
• dinlrnis
• dinorois

Etymology of DINORNIS

The etymology of the word "Dinornis" can be traced back to Ancient Greek. It is derived from the combination of two Greek words: "deinos" meaning "terrible" or "marvelous", and "ornis" meaning "bird". When combined, "Dinornis" translates to "terrible bird" or "marvelous bird". This name was given to the now-extinct genus of flightless birds known as the moa, which belonged to the family Dinornithidae. The moa (Dinornis) were native to New Zealand and were characterized by their gigantic size.

Plural form of DINORNIS is DINORNISES