anisodactyls
|an-is-o-dac-tyl|
/ˌænɪsəˈdæktəlz/
(anisodactyl)
unequal toes — 3 forward, 1 back
Etymology
'anisodactyl' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'anisos' and 'daktulos', where 'anisos' meant 'unequal' and 'daktulos' meant 'finger/toe'.
'anisodactyl' was formed in New Latin/modern scientific usage from the Greek roots 'anisos' + 'daktulos' and entered English in the 19th century as a zoological term referring to toe arrangement in birds.
Initially, it meant 'unequal-toed', but over time it came to refer specifically to the arrangement of three toes forward and one backward, typical of perching birds.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'anisodactyl'; birds characterized by an anisodactyl toe arrangement (three toes pointing forward and one toe pointing backward), typical of perching birds (passerines).
Many songbirds are anisodactyls, which helps them grip branches securely.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/17 05:29