artiodactyl
Feb. 23rd, 2010 07:26 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
prettygoodwordartiodactyl (ar-TEE-oh-dak-tuhl) - n., a mammal having an even number of (functional) digits on each foot.
In practical terms, either two or four toes. The rest of us mammals with an odd number of fingers and toes are perissodactyl. Note that both terms also can refer specifically to members of two orders of ungulates, Artiodactyla and Perissodactyla. Taken in 1879 from New Latin, coined somewhat earlier from Greek roots artios, even-numbered, fitting + daktylos, toe.
Moo.
---L.
In practical terms, either two or four toes. The rest of us mammals with an odd number of fingers and toes are perissodactyl. Note that both terms also can refer specifically to members of two orders of ungulates, Artiodactyla and Perissodactyla. Taken in 1879 from New Latin, coined somewhat earlier from Greek roots artios, even-numbered, fitting + daktylos, toe.
Moo.
---L.
