perissodactyl
having an uneven number of toes or digits on each foot.
any mammal of the order Perissodactyla, comprising the odd-toed hoofed quadrupeds and including the tapirs, rhinoceroses, and horses.
Origin of perissodactyl
1- Also pe·ris·so·dac·tyle [puh-ris-oh-dak-til, -tahyl]. /pəˌrɪs oʊˈdæk tɪl, -taɪl/.
Other words from perissodactyl
- pe·ris·so·dac·ty·lous, adjective
- Compare artiodactyl.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for perissodactyl
perissodactyle (pəˌrɪsəʊˈdæktaɪl)
/ (pəˌrɪsəʊˈdæktɪl) /
any placental mammal of the order Perissodactyla, having hooves with an odd number of toes: includes horses, tapirs, and rhinoceroses
of, relating to, or belonging to the Perissodactyla
Origin of perissodactyl
1Derived forms of perissodactyl
- perissodactylous, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for perissodactyl
[ pə-rĭs′ō-dăk′təl ]
Any of various hoofed mammals of the order Perissodactyla, having one or three hoofed toes on each hindfoot. During the Tertiary Period, perissodactyls were the dominant herbivorous fauna. Horses, tapirs, and rhinoceroses are perissodactyls. Also called odd-toed ungulate
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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