▪ I. monodelph Zool.
(ˈmɒnədɛlf)
[ad. F. Monodelphe (De Blainville), f. mod.L. Monodelph-ia, f. Gr. µόνο-ς mono- + δελϕύς womb.]
A mammal belonging to the subclass Monodelphia of mammals, characterized by a single uterus and vagina, and comprising all mammals except the monotremes and marsupials.
| 1842 Brande Dict. Sci. etc., Monodelphs.., a name given by De Blainville to the first sub-class in his binary division of Mammalia. 1878 Bartley tr. Topinard's Anthrop. 22 The Monodelphs include (1) The Cetacea and Amphibia. (2) The Pachydermata [etc.]. |
So monoˈdelphian, (a) adj. of, belonging to, or characteristic of the Monodelphia; (b) n. a member of this subclass; monoˈdelphic, monoˈdelphous adjs.
| 1856 Mayne Expos. Lex., Monodelphus,..monodelphous. 1869 Huxley Introd. Classif. Anim. 90 In this manner.. the Monodelphian fœtus is supplied with nourishment. Ibid. 98 The type of a distinct order of deciduate Monodelphous Mammalia. 1870 Flower Osteol. Mamm. i. (1876) 3 The remaining Monodelphian Mammals are:—i. Primates. 1881 Mivart Cat 469 The Cat, as a monodelphous mammal, of course shares the characters which distinguish that sub-class from both the others. 1882 Ogilvie, Monodelph, Monodelphian, n. a mammal belonging to the sub-class Monodelphia. Ibid., Monodelphic. |
▪ II. monodelph etc.,
erron. ff. monadelph, etc.