Dipodidae

/dɪˌpɒdɪˈdeɪ/ noun

Definition

The scientific family name for jerboas and jumping mice, small rodents characterized by their two powerful hind legs and jumping locomotion.

Etymology

From Greek 'dipous' (two-footed) plus the Latin family suffix '-idae', formally naming the family of two-legged jumping rodents.

Kelly Says

The Dipodidae family contains around 50 species of jerboas that live in deserts and grasslands across Africa and Asia, and they're so specialized for jumping that their front legs are almost vestigial.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.