Drepanidae

/ˌdrepəˈnaɪdi/ noun

Definition

An older scientific family classification for sickle-billed Hawaiian honeycreeper birds, now considered part of Fringillidae.

Etymology

Scientific Latin from Greek 'drepane' (sickle), with the -idae suffix indicating a taxonomic family.

Kelly Says

Taxonomists constantly update how they classify animals as DNA testing reveals true relationships—Drepanidae was split apart when genetic testing showed these birds were more closely related to other finches than previously thought.

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