artiodactyl
/,ɑ:tiou'dæktil/
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Definition
Noun:
- A type of mammal: An artiodactyl is a placental mammal belonging to the order Artiodactyla, characterized by having hooves with an even number of functional toes (usually two or four) on each foot. This group includes animals such as pigs, deer, cattle, camels, and hippopotamuses.
Adjective:
- Relating to a group of mammals: Of, relating to, or belonging to the order Artiodactyla. Describes the anatomical features or characteristics of these even-toed ungulates.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The cow is a common artiodactyl.
- Deer and giraffes are both artiodactyls.
- Adjective:
- The fossil showed clear artiodactyl features in its foot bones.
- Scientists study artiodactyl evolution.
Advanced Usage
- In scientific classification: The term is primarily used in zoological and paleontological contexts to classify and describe a major order of mammals.
- The research focused on the digestive systems of various artiodactyl species.
Variants and Related Words
- Artiodactyla (n): The scientific order name for even-toed ungulates.
- The order Artiodactyla is diverse.
- Artiodactylous (adj): An alternative adjective form with the same meaning.
- The artiodactylous limb structure is highly efficient.
Synonyms
- Even-toed ungulate: This is the common descriptive synonym for an artiodactyl.
- The moose is a large even-toed ungulate.
Different Meanings
The word "artiodactyl" has a single, specific zoological meaning and is not commonly used in idioms or phrasal verbs.
Adjective
- of or relating to or belonging to mammals of the order Artiodactyla
Noun
- placental mammal having hooves with an even number of functional toes on each foot