raptorial
/rapˈtɔːrɪəl
/adjective chiefly Zoology
1(Of a bird or other animal) predatory: raptorial birds...
- Compared to most raptorial birds, saw-whet owls are a very small-bodied species with high mass-specific metabolic costs.
- No one would expect detailed management histories of otters, beavers, muskrats, raptorial birds, and yet the success story of the Yellowstone cutthroat trout is worth telling.
- Numerous explanations exist for the evolution of reversed size dimorphism in raptorial species.
1.1(Of a limb or other organ) adapted for seizing prey: raptorial front legs...
- Their lethal raptorial appendages provide effective weapons for acquiring and defending these homes.
- Note that the male in the image at right has much larger eyes and raptorial appendages.
- In addition, they have potent raptorial appendages, with which they produce extremely fast and powerful strikes.
Derivatives
raptorially
Origin
Early 19th century: from Latin raptor 'plunderer' + -ial.