Definition of pentadactyl in English:
pentadactyl
adjective ˌpɛntəˈdaktɪlˌpɛn(t)əˈdæktl
Zoology (of a vertebrate limb) having five toes or fingers, or derived from such a form, as characteristic of all tetrapods.
Example sentencesExamples
- No single mutation can produce a pentadactyl limb of vertebrate type on a Drosophila.
- These morphological facts show that the pentadactyl limb arose after the fin-limb transition and is the product of the canalization of the phenotype of the archaic limbs.
- The pentadactyl pattern is a repeated design because it was available.
- Others include pentadactyl feet and presence of a clavicle.
- First, it's quite easy to ‘imagine’ a vertebrate without the pentadactyl pattern.
Derivatives
noun ˌpɛntəˈdaktɪli
Zoology He pointed out, for example, that the developmental genetic explanation of the prevalence of pentadactyly assumes tetrapod monophyly.
Example sentencesExamples
- This was a very surprising discovery because pentadactyly had been assumed to be the normal condition in ‘early’ tetrapods.
Origin
Early 19th century: from penta- 'five' + Greek daktulos 'finger'.
Definition of pentadactyl in US English:
pentadactyl
adjectiveˌpen(t)əˈdaktlˌpɛn(t)əˈdæktl
Zoology (of a vertebrate limb) having five toes or fingers, or derived from such a form, as characteristic of all tetrapods.
Example sentencesExamples
- These morphological facts show that the pentadactyl limb arose after the fin-limb transition and is the product of the canalization of the phenotype of the archaic limbs.
- No single mutation can produce a pentadactyl limb of vertebrate type on a Drosophila.
- Others include pentadactyl feet and presence of a clavicle.
- First, it's quite easy to ‘imagine’ a vertebrate without the pentadactyl pattern.
- The pentadactyl pattern is a repeated design because it was available.
Origin
Early 19th century: from penta- ‘five’ + Greek daktulos ‘finger’.