artiodactyl

[ ahr-tee-oh-dak-til ]

adjective

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

noun

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

artiodactyl

/ ˌɑːtɪəʊˈdæktɪl /

noun

1. 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

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the order Artiodactyla

artiodactyl

/ är′tē-ō-dăk′təl /

1. 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.
2. Also called even-toed ungulate

Derived Forms

• ˌartioˈdactylous, adjective

Other Words From

• arti·o·dacty·lous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of artiodactyl¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of artiodactyl¹

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

Example Sentences

In the Miocene the evolution of the two-toed artiodactyl foot was well-nigh completed.

From Project Gutenberg

Or, to put it more definitely: hoofed animals are divided into two groups, even-toed (artiodactyl) and odd-toed (perissodactyl).

From Project Gutenberg

The Artiodactyl group must have quickly branched in turn, as we find very primitive hogs and camels before the end of the Eocene.

From Project Gutenberg

The great group is now usually divided into those that are odd-toed (Perissodactyl) and those that are even-toed (Artiodactyl).

From Project Gutenberg

One leading to the existing perissodactyl foot, and the other, apparently later, resulting in the artiodactyl type.

From Project Gutenberg