hystricomorphadj.n.
/ˈhɪstrᵻkə(ʊ)mɔːf/, U.S. /ˈhɪstrəkəˌmɔrf/, /ˈhɪstrəkoʊˌmɔrf/ Zoology.
A. adj.
Belonging to a large group of rodents (originally the suborder Hystricomorpha, now the suborder Hystricognatha) distinguished particularly by the form of the jaws and masseter muscles, and including porcupines, cavies and guinea pigs, chinchillas, agoutis, capybaras, etc.; of, relating to, or characteristic of these rodents.These animals are now often described as hystricognathous.
ΚΠ
1877 E. Coues & J. A. Allen Monogr. N. Amer. Rodentia (U.S. Geol. Surv. Territories, vol. XI) 549 Haploodontidæ, Lilljeborg..(as family of the Hystricomorph series).
1900 Science 13 Apr. 564/2 In the southern portion of Neogæa..the Hystricomorph rodents enjoyed their chief radiation.
1968 Amer. Zoologist 8 806/1 Peculiarly hystricomorph are their well developed subplacenta, numerous giants cells of maternal origin, and relatively scarce giant cells of trophoblastic origin.
2012 D. LeRoith et al. in M. K. Rozaida et al. Insulin, Insulin-like Growth Factors, & Receptors 108 While the hystricomorph sequences vary significantly from other vertebrate insulins, there is even more variation among the hystricomorph insulins themselves.
B. n.
Any of the rodents of this group.Such an animal is now often called a hystricognath.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > order Rodentia or rodent > superfamily Hystricomorpha (porcupine or guinea-pig) > [noun] > member of
hystricomorph1877
1877 J. A. Allen in E. Coues & J. A. Allen Monogr. N. Amer. Rodentia (U.S. Geol. Surv. Territories, vol. XI) App. A. 943 The Sciuromorphs, Hystricomorphs, and Leporidae [have] been nearly all noticed at some length in the preceding pages of the present series of monographs.
1882 Pop. Sci. Monthly Jan. 423 The hystricomorphs (porcupines, Guinea-pigs and capybaras), which are now confined to the southern hemisphere.
2009 L. Jepson Exotic Animal Med. iii. 93 Many of the pet rodents presented to the veterinarian belong to the group known as hystricomorphs.
Derivatives
ˌhystricoˈmorphic adj. rare belonging to or characteristic of the suborder Hystricognatha (formerly Hystricomorpha); = hystricomorph adj.
ΚΠ
1889 Cent. Dict. Habrocoma, a genus of hystricomorphic rodents, of the family Octodontidæ, peculiar to South America, differing from most members of this family in having the fore feet four-toed.
1958 V. Nabokov Nabokov's Dozen (1959) 220 The Bokes come tearing out of the house like two hystricomorphic rodents.
2006 Mammalian Species No. 788 3/1 Compared with other hystricomorphic rodents, infraorbital foramen is small, but allows for passage of masseter medialis muscle.
ˌhystricoˈmorphine adj. rare belonging to or characteristic of the suborder Hystricognatha (formerly Hystricomorpha); = hystricomorph adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > order Rodentia or rodent > superfamily Hystricomorpha (porcupine or guinea-pig) > [adjective]
hystricine1842
hystricomorphine1894
1894 Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1893 185 They also approach Anomalurus.., the various hystricomorphine characters of which have long ago been noted.
1964 D. Klingener Compar. Morphol. Four Dipopoid Rodents Misc. Pub. Mus. Zool. Univ. Mich. No. 124 21 In the hystricomorphine type the anterior and posterior bellies [of the digastric muscle] are not interrupted by tendon.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2020; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1877