condylarth

[ kon-dl-ahrth ]

noun

1. any of the primitive ungulate mammals of the extinct order Condylarthra, from the Paleocene and Eocene epochs, having a slender body, low-crowned teeth, and five-toed feet, each toe ending in a small hoof.

Word History and Origins

Origin of condylarth¹

1880–85; < New Latin Condylarthra (neuter plural) < Greek kóndyl ( os ) condyle + -arthra, neuter plural of arthrus -jointed, derivative of árthron joint

Example Sentences

The most abundant group of mammals in North America during this time was the condylarths.

From Popular-Science

Part of the reason for this is that condylarth teeth don’t generally resemble those of any living mammals.

From Popular-Science

The condylarth teeth that Eberle and Atteberry examined had previously been collected from a sandstone river channel in a quarry in south-central Wyoming’s Great Divide Basin.

From Popular-Science