Definition of ratite Ratite

rat•ite

We found 6 definitions of ratite from 5 different sources.

What does ratite mean?

Noun Plural: ratites
ratite - flightless birds having flat breastbones lacking a keel for attachment of flight muscles: ostriches; cassowaries; emus; moas; rheas; kiwis; elephant birds
		ratite bird, flightless bird
		carinate, carinate bird, flying bird birds having keeled breastbones for attachment of flight muscles
		bird warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
		struthio camelus, ostrich fast-running African flightless bird with two-toed feet; largest living bird
		cassowary large black flightless bird of Australia and New Guinea having a horny head crest
		dromaius novaehollandiae, emu novaehollandiae, emu large Australian flightless bird similar to the ostrich but smaller
		apteryx, kiwi nocturnal flightless bird of New Zealand having a long neck and stout legs; only surviving representative of the order Apterygiformes
		rhea americana, rhea larger of two tall fast-running flightless birds similar to ostriches but three-toed; found from Brazil to Patagonia
		nandu, pterocnemia pennata, rhea larger of two tall fast-running flightless birds similar to ostriches but three-toed; found from Brazil to Patagonia
		aepyornis, elephant bird huge (to 9 ft.) extinct flightless bird of Madagascar