artiodactyl
English
editEtymology
editFrom scientific Latin Artiodactyla (suborder name), from Ancient Greek ἄρτιος (ártios, “even”) + δάκτυλος (dáktulos, “finger, toe”).
Pronunciation
editNoun
editartiodactyl (plural artiodactyls)
- (zoology) Any ungulate mammal with an even number of toes and belonging to the Artiodactyla, including pigs, sheep, deer, cattle, and most grazing animals. In contrast, horses have an odd number of toes and as such are not Artiodactyla, but Perissodactyla. [from 19th c.]
- Synonym: even-toed ungulate
- 2013, Simon Winder, Danubia, Picador, published 2014, page 397:
- I have been unable to find out if these are linked in some way to the 1945 Budapest hippos, with the possibility this would create of a parallel history of Central Europe seen through the endurance of one brave African artiodactyl family.
Related terms
editTranslations
editany ungulate mammal with an even number of toes
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