octodontadj.n.
/ˈɒktədɒnt/, U.S. /ˈɑktəˌdɑnt/ Zoology.
A. adj.
Of or relating to the genus Octodon or the family Octodontidae, containing the degus and related rodents.
ΚΠ
1890 Cent. Dict. Octodont, having eight teeth (that is, four grinders above and below on each side); of or pertaining to the genus Octodon or the family Octodontidæ.
1902 Science 24 Jan. 149/1 Capromys..is a peculiar genus, having its nearest relative in the Octodont rodents of South America.
1987 Q. Rev. Biol. 62 284/2 (title) Ecological note on the fossorial octodont rodent Spalacopus cyanus.
B. n.
An octodont rodent; a degu.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > order Rodentia or rodent > superfamily Hystricomorpha (porcupine or guinea-pig) > [noun] > family Octodontidae
Octodon1832
octodont1890
rock rat1890
1890 Cent. Dict. Octodont, a member of the genus Octodon.
1969 Q. Rev. Biol. 44 44/2 Caviomorphs range in size from the small ground squirrel-like octodonts to the giant of rodents, the..capybara.
1991 R. M. Nowak Walker's Mammals of World (ed. 5) II. 934/2 Octodonts inhabit coastal areas, foothills, and the Andes Mountains to elevations of 3,500 meters or more.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1890