FRATERCULA ARCTICA Meaning and
Definition
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Fratercula arctica, commonly known as the Atlantic puffin, is a species of seabird belonging to the family Alcidae. It is a small, stocky bird typically found in the northern parts of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Atlantic puffin is known for its brightly colored triangular beak, which is orange-yellow with a distinctive red, blue, and yellow pattern during the breeding season. It measures about 9 to 12 inches in length and weighs around 10 to 15 ounces. This bird has a blackish-brown body with a white belly and face, along with dark eyes encircled by a black eyeline.
Atlantic puffins are highly adapted for life at sea and have unique behaviors and characteristics. They are renowned for their exceptional diving abilities, capable of descending to depths of up to 200 feet in search of fish. Their diet primarily consists of small fish, such as herring and sand eels, as well as crustaceans.
Breeding colonies of puffins are found on coastal cliffs and offshore islands, where they nest in burrows or among rocky crevices. They typically lay a single egg, and both parents take turns incubating it for about 6 weeks. Atlantic puffins are known for their strong pair-bonding and fidelity, often returning to the same breeding sites year after year.
Due to their distinctive appearance and fascinating behaviors, Atlantic puffins are popular among bird watchers and are considered an iconic symbol of certain coastal areas. However, their numbers have declined in some regions due to factors such as habitat degradation, oil spills, and overfishing, leading to efforts in conservation and protection of their breeding grounds.
Common Misspellings for FRATERCULA ARCTICA
- dratercula arctica
- cratercula arctica
- vratercula arctica
- gratercula arctica
- tratercula arctica
- rratercula arctica
- featercula arctica
- fdatercula arctica
- ffatercula arctica
- ftatercula arctica
- f5atercula arctica
- f4atercula arctica
- frztercula arctica
- frstercula arctica
- frwtercula arctica
- frqtercula arctica
- frarercula arctica
- frafercula arctica
- fragercula arctica
Etymology of FRATERCULA ARCTICA
The word "Fratercula arctica" is a scientific name that refers to a species of seabird commonly known as the Atlantic puffin.
- Fratercula: This word is derived from the Latin term "frater" which means "brother" and refers to the bird's black and white plumage, resembling monastic robes. The term "cula" is a diminutive form indicating affinity or similarity. Therefore, "Fratercula" can be translated as "little brother" or "little friar" in reference to the bird's appearance.
- Arctica: The word "arctica" comes from the Latin word "arcticus" which means "northern" or "belonging to the Arctic". This term is used to designate the bird's habitat, as the Atlantic puffin is commonly found in the northern parts of the Atlantic Ocean and breeds in the Arctic region.
