Proboscidea

1 of 2

plural noun

Pro·​bos·​cid·​ea
ˌprōbəˈsidēə,
-ˌbäˈs-;
prōˌbäsəˈd-
: an order of large gravigrade mammals comprising the elephants and extinct related forms that typically have some of the teeth enlarged into tusks with corresponding modifications of the skull, that often have the nose drawn out into a trunk, and that are now limited to Africa and parts of Asia though formerly present in most parts of the world compare mammoth, mastodon

Proboscidea

2 of 2
"

taxonomic synonym of martynia

Word History

Etymology

Plural noun

New Latin, from Latin proboscid-, proboscis

New Latin, from Latin proboscid-, proboscis

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Cite this Entry

“Proboscidea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Proboscidea. Accessed 10 Jan. 2025.

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