Stuck on the “The Kiwi or Cassowary” clue in today’s New York Times Crossword? These two flightless birds might just be the key to cracking the puzzle!
If you’re puzzled by the clue “The Kiwi or Cassowary” in a New York Times crossword puzzle, don’t worry! The crossword on June 02, 2024 featured a riddle with the answer ‘RATITE’.
This article explores the word’s definition, specific bird types, and why crossword enthusiasts encounter it. Additionally, we will address frequently asked questions about this unique clue.
What is a Ratite? explain also its examples the Kiwi or Cassowary an others.
The term “ratites” refers to certain flightless species of birds. The reason for the lack of flight is because such birds do not have a keel attached to their breastbone. The keel in most of the birds is a skeletal structure that holds the flying muscles.
Therefore, ratites are adapted to living on land rather than in the water environment. Some examples of ratites are the following:
- Kiwi: Residing in New Zealand, this is a small, flightless bird with a long beak and is also a nocturnal creature.
- Cassowary: An active terrestrial bird with a huge and flamboyant body found in Australia and Papua New Guinea, the cassowary has a prominent helmet-like formation on its head and strong legs.
- Ostrich: The ostrich also recognized as Struthio camelus is the heaviest flighted bird globally and found in Africa. It has agile running abilities in addition to its giant stature.
- Emu: An Emu is a large-sized bird that is found in Australia and to some extent, is like an ostrich but of smaller dimensions.
These bird species have a unique evolutionary history and probably lost their ability to fly at different times due to different environmental adaptations.
Why the Kiwi and Cassowary are Grouped in Crosswords
The clue “The Kiwi or Cassowary” fits well within crossword puzzles for several reasons:
- Concise Answer with Few Letters: The answer, RATITE, is a great six-letter word that fits well in puzzle grids.
- Birds of Interest: Kiwi and cassowary are unique birds that catch attention and are familiar enough to intrigue puzzle lovers.
- Crossword-Friendly Vocabulary: Terms such as ratite are commonly found in crossword puzzles because of their concise, vowel-rich composition, which assists puzzle creators in connecting clues throughout the grid.
Crosswords frequently test players with specific or scientific words, and “ratite” is a great example. Learning this word helps players build their vocabulary for upcoming puzzles.
The Crossword Puzzle Context of kiwi and crossword
The crossword puzzle published by The New York Times has been a significant element of the publication since 1942, celebrated for its clever clues and linguistic innovation. The difficulty of the puzzles increases as the week progresses, reaching its peak with the most difficult version available on Sundays.
Clues such as “The Kiwi or Cassowary” exemplify themed puzzles or specialized knowledge, encouraging participants to engage in unconventional thinking.
In this particular puzzle, both the kiwi and the cassowary belong to the ratite group, characterized by their common evolutionary characteristics. Individuals who possess knowledge of avian species or zoological terminology are likely to have an advantage in this context.
FAQ’s
1. Who are the members of the Ratite class of birds?
Ratites refer to a number of large species of birds that cannot fly, and this category comprises the kiwi, cassowary, emu, ostrich and a few more species.
2. In which medium was this hint found?
This hint was found in the crossword puzzle that appeared in The New York Times on June 2, 2024.
3. Do ratites occupy more than one area?
Ratites are spread across several continents: Kiwis are found in New Zealand, Cassowaries are located in New Guinea and Australia, Ostrich belongs to Africa while Rhea species are located in South America.
4. Why flightless rats?
Ratites evolved in situations and locations that did not pose a threat for birds and made the ability to fly rather useless. In the situation when there were no enemies and a lot of food was available on ground level, these birds evolved – they formed strong legs for running instead of good wings for flying.
5. How can I improve my crossword skills?
Learn or get acquainted with terms like ‘ratite,’ as they are common in many puzzles. Besides, regular doing of cross words and improving one’s language will assist in patterns and hard clues recognition.
Conclusion
The clue “The Kiwi or Cassowary” included in a crossword puzzle published by New York Times stimulates the interest of the readers into the unique amusing family of ratites which include a wide range of flightless birds around the world.
Starting from the very basic level to the most advanced level of the crossword puzzle, the clues have shown that these puzzles are not all about the letters but also about acquiring new knowledge and concepts as well.
Hence, you will not have to hesitate coming up with the answer ratite when you see this clue again and you will broaden your understanding of the animal kingdom especially the birds.
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