Dictionary

zygodactyl en · ADJ

Etymology

From zygo- + -dactyl.

Meanings

1. (not-comparable) Having two toes pointing forward, and two pointing backward; zygodactylous.
   • In parrots, the tarsometatarsus has a distinct shape resulting from the particular arrangement of parrot toes. As zygodactyl birds, toes number 2 and 3 are facing forward, while toes 1 and 4 are facing backwards. 2016 November 16, Hanneke Meijer, “Sunny steppes? A tiny parrot fossil suggests Siberia was once subtropical”, in The Guardian:

zygodactyl en · NOUN

Etymology

From zygo- + -dactyl.

Meanings

1. Any bird with toes of this kind, such as the parrot.

Forms