Apteryx

noun

2. A genus of ratite birds, constituting the family Apterygidœ.
3. [lowercase] A bird of this genus; a kiwi (which see).
4. A genus of New Zealand birds about the size of a hen, with only short rudiments of wings, armed with a claw and without a tail; the kiwi. It is allied to the gigantic extinct moas of the same country. Five species are known.
5. nocturnal flightless bird of New Zealand having a long neck and stout legs; only surviving representative of the order Apterygiformes