In Greek mythology, the Meleagrids were the daughters of Althaea and Oeneus, sisters of Meleager. When their brother died, Artemis changed them into guineafowl.

Hence the scientific name for the guineafowl family of birds is the Melagridae. The American turkey has the genus name Meleagris from confusion with the African guineafowl.

The Meleagrids included Melanippe.

Ovid VIII, 534.