Macrauchenia

noun

Mac·​rau·​che·​nia
ˌmaˌkrȯˈkēnēə
: a genus (the type of the family Macraucheniidae) of long-necked three-toed Pleistocene mammals (order Litopterna) of South America that had a complete dentition of 44 teeth without a diastema and with pitted incisors like those of the horse, the external nostrils far back, cervical vertebrae resembling those of camels, and other characters suggesting rhinoceroses

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek makrauchēn long-necked (from makr- macr- + auchēn neck) + New Latin -ia

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Cite this Entry

“Macrauchenia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Macrauchenia. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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