cathemeral
Aug. 13th, 2019 07:47 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
prettygoodwordcathemeral (kuh-THEM-ur-uhl) - adj., (of an animal) active during sporadic and random intervals throughout the day and night.
As opposed to nocturnal (active at night), diurnal (active during the day), or crepuscular (active at twilight, both dawn and dusk). Also called metaturnal. Example cathemeral species include some species of lemurs. Coined in 1979 by the classicist father of Ian Tattersall, a primatologist, from Greek roots kata, through + hemera, day -- so "throughout the day."
---L.
As opposed to nocturnal (active at night), diurnal (active during the day), or crepuscular (active at twilight, both dawn and dusk). Also called metaturnal. Example cathemeral species include some species of lemurs. Coined in 1979 by the classicist father of Ian Tattersall, a primatologist, from Greek roots kata, through + hemera, day -- so "throughout the day."
---L.
