Definition of Hystricomorpha in English:
Hystricomorpha
plural nounˌhɪstrɪkə(ʊ)ˈmɔːfəˌhistrikōˈmôrfə
Zoology A major division of the rodents which includes the guinea pigs, coypu, porcupines and their relatives. They occur chiefly in South America.
Suborder Hystricomorpha, order Rodentia
Example sentencesExamples
- The Old World members of this group are sometimes placed in a separate group called the porcupine-like rodents (Hystricomorpha).
- The Guinea Pig, Cavia porcellus, is a mammal of the order Rodentia, sub-order Hystricomorpha and family Caviidae.
Derivatives
noun & adjective
Zoology The myomorph and sciuromorph taxa are included in the Sciurognathi, while most hystricomorphs are in the Hystricognathi.
Example sentencesExamples
- Nevertheless, hystricomorph rodents are an exception among mammals, possessing an insulin molecule with many amino acid substitutions.
Origin
Modern Latin (plural), from Latin hystrix, hystric- 'porcupine' (from Greek hustrix) + morphē 'form'.
Definition of Hystricomorpha in US English:
Hystricomorpha
plural nounˌhistrikōˈmôrfə
Zoology A major division of the rodents that includes the guinea pigs, porcupines, coypu, and their relatives. They occur chiefly in South America.
Suborder Hystricomorpha, order Rodentia
Example sentencesExamples
- The Guinea Pig, Cavia porcellus, is a mammal of the order Rodentia, sub-order Hystricomorpha and family Caviidae.
- The Old World members of this group are sometimes placed in a separate group called the porcupine-like rodents (Hystricomorpha).
Origin
Modern Latin (plural), from Latin hystrix, hystric- ‘porcupine’ (from Greek hustrix) + morphē ‘form’.