How Do You Spell MICRODACTYLOUS?

1. Microdactylous is an adjective that describes a biological condition or characteristic relating to the abnormally small size or proportions of fingers or toes. It is derived from two roots: "micro," meaning small, and "dactylous," referring to fingers or toes. The term is most commonly used in the context of zoology, specifically to describe certain species or individuals that possess unusually tiny digits.

   In animals, microdactylous traits can manifest in a variety of ways, such as possessing shorter or narrower appendages compared to others of the same species. This condition can be congenital or acquired due to genetic factors, environmental influences, or physical injuries. For instance, certain bird species may exhibit microdactylous characteristics where their digits are significantly reduced in size, which may affect their ability to efficiently grasp or perch on objects.

   The term "microdactylous" can also be applied to certain human conditions or disorders that result in abnormal finger or toe proportions. In these cases, individuals may have shorter or underdeveloped digits, which can impact their fine motor skills or dexterity. Such conditions may be caused by genetic mutations, syndromes, or developmental abnormalities.

   Overall, microdactylous is a term used to define the state of having tiny or abnormally small fingers or toes, either in reference to animals or humans.

2. Relating to microdactylia, having short or small fingers or toes.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for MICRODACTYLOUS

The word "microdactylous" is derived from two ancient Greek roots: "micro-" and "-dactylous".

The prefix "micro-" comes from the Greek μικρός (mikrós), meaning "small" or "little". It is often used in scientific terminology to indicate something that is small in size or scale.

The second part, "-dactylous", originates from the Greek word for "finger", which is "δάκτυλος" (dáktylos). In the context of the word "microdactylous", the suffix "-dactylous" refers to fingers or toes.

Therefore, when combined, "microdactylous" literally means "having small fingers or toes". It is commonly used in biology and paleontology to describe organisms with unusually little or reduced fingers or toes.