What is "carinatae"

Carinatae \Car`i*na"t[ae]\, n. pl. [NL., Fem. pl. fr. L. carinatus. See Carinate.] A grand division of birds, including all existing flying birds; -- So called from the carina or keel on the breastbone.

This article is about bird taxonomy; for the topic in pottery and glassware design, see Carinate.

Carinatae is the group of all birds and their extinct relatives to possess a keel, or "carina", on the underside of the breastbone used to anchor large flight muscles.