anisodactyl
|an-i-so-dac-tyl|
🇺🇸
/ˌænɪsəˈdæktəl/
🇬🇧
/ˌænɪsəˈdæktɪl/
unequal toes — 3 forward, 1 back
Etymology
'anisodactyl' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anisodactylos', where 'aniso-' meant 'unequal' and 'dactyl-' meant 'finger, toe'.
'anisodactyl' was adopted into New Latin/technical usage (as 'anisodactylus'/'anisodactylos') in anatomical and zoological descriptions and eventually entered modern English as 'anisodactyl'.
Initially it meant 'unequal-toed' in a general sense, but over time it came to be used specifically for the toe arrangement of three toes forward and one back in many perching birds.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a bird that has an anisodactyl toe arrangement; also used to refer to the condition or arrangement itself (anisodactyly).
The robin is an anisodactyl, typical of many songbirds.
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Adjective 1
having the toes arranged with three pointing forward and one pointing backward (a common toe arrangement in perching birds).
Many perching birds are anisodactyl, which helps them grasp branches.
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Last updated: 2025/08/13 05:06