artiodactyl

[ ahr-tee-oh-dak-til ]

adjective

Zoology. having an even number of toes or digits on each foot.

noun

a hoofed, even-toed mammal of the order Artiodactyla, comprising the pigs, hippopotamuses, camels, deer, giraffes, pronghorns, sheep, goats, antelope, and cattle.

Origin of artiodactyl

From New Latin, dating back to 1840–50; see origin at artio-, dactyl

Other words from artiodactyl

ar·ti·o·dac·ty·lous, adjective

Compare perissodactyl.

Words Nearby artiodactyl

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use artiodactyl in a sentence

In the Miocene the evolution of the two-toed artiodactyl foot was well-nigh completed.
The Elements of Geology | William Harmon Norton
Or, to put it more definitely: hoofed animals are divided into two groups, even-toed (artiodactyl) and odd-toed (perissodactyl).
Evolution | Joseph Le Conte
The artiodactyl group must have quickly branched in turn, as we find very primitive hogs and camels before the end of the Eocene.
The Story of Evolution | Joseph McCabe
The great group is now usually divided into those that are odd-toed (Perissodactyl) and those that are even-toed (artiodactyl).
The Chain of Life in Geological Time | Sir J. William Dawson
One leading to the existing perissodactyl foot, and the other, apparently later, resulting in the artiodactyl type.
Darwin, and After Darwin (Vol. 1 and 3, of 3) | George John Romanes

British Dictionary definitions for artiodactyl

artiodactyl

/ (ˌɑːtɪəʊˈdæktɪl) /

noun

any placental mammal of the order Artiodactyla, having hooves with an even number of toes; an even-toed ungulate. The order includes pigs, hippopotamuses, camels, deer, cattle, and antelopes

adjective

of, relating to, or belonging to the order Artiodactyla

Origin of artiodactyl

C19: from New Latin artiodactylus, from Greek ártios even + daktulos digit

Derived forms of artiodactyl

artiodactylous, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for artiodactyl

artiodactyl

[ är′tē-ō-dăk′təl ]

Any of various hoofed mammals of the order Artiodactyla, having an even number of toes on each foot. Artiodactyls include the pig, sheep, ox, deer, giraffe, and hippopotamus. Also called even-toed ungulate

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