artiodactyl
PRONUNCIATION:
(ahr-tee-o-DAK-til)
MEANING:
adjective: Having an even number of toes on each
foot.
ETYMOLOGY:
From Greek artio- (even in number, perfect) + -dactyl (toed,
fingered). The mammal order Artiodactyla is made up of animals such
as pig, camel, and giraffe. Those having an odd number of toes are
called perissodactyl, from Greek perisso- (uneven, strange).
Examples: horse, tapir, and rhinoceros.
USAGE:
"Joe Palca: By the way, you may not be aware that the pig is
only the second artiodactyl to have its genome sequenced -- the cow
came first."
