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Glite Dictionary
artiodactyl mammal

artiodactyl mammal

9.6
A mammal with hooves and an even number of toes, like deer, pigs or camels
  • noun
  • /ˌɑrtiˈɑdæktɪl ˈmæməl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : mamífero artiodáctilo
  • Pigs, as artiodactyl mammals, have two main weight-bearing toes on each hoof.

Examples

  • The giraffe is an example of an artiodactyl mammal native to Africa.

  • Many artiodactyl mammals are herbivores, feeding on grass.

  • The study focused on the evolutionary history of artiodactyl mammals and their adaptation to various habitats.

  • An artiodactyl mammal like a deer can run very fast.

  • Pigs, as artiodactyl mammals, have two main weight-bearing toes on each hoof.

  • The giraffe is an example of an artiodactyl mammal native to Africa.

  • Many artiodactyl mammals such as deer and camels are important in agricultural ecosystems.

Synonyms

artiodactyl
vsartiodactyl mammal
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A hoofed animal with an even number of toes, like a cow or sheep

states the same idea without mentioning taxonomic order
even-toed ungulate
vsartiodactyl mammal
  • Specialized
9.3

A mammal with hooves that walks on an even number of toes, like cows or deer

uses camels among its examples rather than cattle

Surface Forms

artiodactyl mammal singular
artiodactyl mammals plural

Morphology

artiodactyl + mammal

The phrase simply combines the two constituent meanings: 'artiodactyl' (a member of Artiodactyla with cloven hooves) qualifies the head noun 'mammal', so the meaning is directly 'a mammal that is an artiodactyl'. This noun–noun specification is compositional and cross-linguistically common, so a learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Artiodactyl mammal comes from two old Greek parts: artio- meaning 'even' and -dactyl meaning 'toe' or 'finger'. It literally describes animals with an 'even' number of 'toes', so today artiodactyl mammal refers to hoofed mammals like deer, pigs, and camels.