even-toed ungulate

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English[edit]

A whale is, strangely enough, an even-toed ungulate.

Etymology[edit]

From even-toed (as a translation of the taxonomic name, translingual Artiodactyla, from Ancient Greek ἄρτιος (ártios, even in number) + δάκτυλος (dáktulos, toe)) + ungulate.

Noun[edit]

even-toed ungulate (plural even-toed ungulates)

  1. (zoology) Any mammal in the order Artiodactyla, including camels, pigs and ruminants such as deer, cows, goats, sheep and antelopes; as well as, in recent years, cetaceans (whales and dolphins).