Noun: ratite 'ra,tIt
- Flightless birds having flat breastbones lacking a keel for attachment of flight muscles: ostriches, cassowaries, emus, moas, rheas, kiwis, elephant birds
"Ratites have evolved to be powerful runners instead of flyers"; "The ostrich is the largest living ratite bird";
- ratite bird, flightless bird
Derived forms: ratites
Type of: bird, birdie [informal]
Encyclopedia: Ratite