artiodactylous
- adjective
- /ˌɑrtiˈɑdɛkˌtɪləs/
- Specialized
- Most domesticated livestock, such as sheep and pigs, are artiodactylous mammals.
Examples
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The camel is an artiodactylous animal adapted to desert life.
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Scientists studied the hooves of artiodactylous species to understand their movement in different terrains.
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The artiodactylous species include animals like cows and pigs.
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Did you know that artiodactylous mammals have two or four toes?
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Most domesticated livestock, such as cows and sheep, are artiodactylous mammals.
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The giraffe is an artiodactylous species known for its long neck and unique diet.
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In Africa, many artiodactylous animals, such as antelopes and wildebeests, roam the savannah.
Synonyms
1
8.4
A mammal with an even number of toes on each foot, like a cow or a deer
1
9.9
Relating to animals with hooves and an even number of toes, like cows
Surface Forms
Morphology
artiodactylous = artiodactyl (opaque) = artio + dactyl + ous
Formed from the technical zoological noun 'artiodactyl' plus '-ous'; the combining elements ('artio-', 'dactyl') are specialist and not transparent to average learners.
Etymology
Artiodactylous comes from two Greek parts: artio- meaning 'even' and dactyl- meaning 'toe', so it literally says 'even-toed'. That's why artiodactylous describes animals with an even number of toes on each foot, like cows and pigs.