Hyracoidea
1
9.9
A group of small, thickset plant-eating mammals called hyraxes
- noun
- /ˌhaɪrəˈkoɪdiə/
- Specialized
:
Hyracoidea
- Hyraxes belong to the taxonomic order Hyracoidea, which includes both living and extinct species.
Examples
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Scientists study the Hyracoidea order to understand the evolutionary history of hyraxes.
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The Hyracoidea are fascinating creatures, known for their unique adaptations to rocky habitats.
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Instead, they are the only living representatives of the ancient mammalian order Hyracoidea.
Academic text (2009)
Synonyms
9.9
A group of small plant-eating mammals like hyraxes and some extinct relatives
is identical in meaning but is the name form without the rank phrase
Compounds
order Hyracoidea
- Specialized
9.9
A group of small plant-eating mammals like hyraxes and some extinct relatives
Surface Forms
Hyracoidea singular
Hyracoideas plural
Etymology
Hyracoidea starts with hyrax, an old Greek name meaning 'shrewmouse' or 'rock rabbit', and ends with -oidea, which means 'like' or 'resembling'. So Hyracoidea simply means the group of animals 'like hyraxes', which fits because it is the order of small, plant-eating mammals called hyraxes.