Coliidae

/koʊˈliːɪdi/ noun

Definition

A family of small African birds (mousebirds) that have specialized gut systems, studied in microbiology as they carry certain bacteria.

Etymology

From Latin 'colius' (a type of African bird) + '-idae' (family classification suffix in taxonomy), used in zoological nomenclature since the 19th century.

Kelly Says

These mousebirds have such unusual digestive systems that scientists study the bacteria in their guts to understand how birds and microbes coevolved in ways completely different from mammals!

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