zygodactyla
|zy-go-dac-ty-la|
/ˌzaɪɡəˈdæktɪlə/
(zygodactyl)
paired toes (two forward, two back)
Etymology
'zygodactyl' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'zygon' and 'daktulos', where 'zygon' meant 'yoke' and 'daktulos' meant 'finger'.
'zygodactyl' entered scientific/Latinized usage (e.g. Medieval Latin/Neo-Latin 'zygodactylus' or related forms) and was adopted into English technical vocabulary as 'zygodactyl' (with variants like 'zygodactyly' and 'zygodactylous').
Initially based on the literal sense 'yoked fingers' (a yoke-like pairing of digits), the term evolved into the specific anatomical/ornithological sense 'having two toes forward and two backward.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a term (often used in biological/taxonomic contexts) referring to birds or organisms exhibiting zygodactyl feet (two toes pointing forward and two pointing backward); can appear as a taxonomic name or descriptive noun.
Several parrot species classified as zygodactyla grip branches firmly with two toes forward and two back.
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Adjective 1
having a zygodactyl arrangement of toes: two toes forward and two toes backward (as in parrots, woodpeckers and some other birds).
The field guide described the species as zygodactyla, adapted for gripping vertical surfaces.
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Last updated: 2025/09/17 05:40