Kagu name "Rhynochetos", and the clade name Rhynochetidae, are derived from the Greek "rhis" meaning nose and "chetos" meaning corn, referring to the corn-shaped flaps over the nostrils. The specific name "jubatus" is derived from the Latin "iabatus" meaning crested. The name kagu is derived from the Melanesian names for the species. The species is variously known as the "kavu" or "kagou" in the Kanak languages, and as the "cagou" in French (also used as an alternative spelling in English). The kagu is a ground-living bird, in length. The weight can vary considerably by individual and by season, ranging from .
Creature Catalogue recommend it. Brinsley felt that organizing the book in sections by type of creature rather than just alphabetically like "AD&D"<nowiki>'</nowiki>s "Monster Manual"s "should certainly make life easier for those DMs who design their own adventures, and know what sort of monster they want, rather than by name". He also felt that the comprehensive references to all the monsters appearing in the "D&D" boxed sets would solve the problem of having to remember in which set a particular monster appears. He concluded the review by stating, "basically, this book contains all you could ever wish to know about monsters in the