Unguiculata (Noun)
Meaning
In former classifications a major division of Mammalia comprising mammals with nails or claws; distinguished from hoofed mammals and cetaceans.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- Early classification systems separated mammals into the Unguiculata, with nails or claws, and Ungulata, with hooves.
- Some zoologists included marsupials and bats within the Unguiculata group, citing morphological characteristics.
- Traditionally, the Unguiculata category consisted of rodents, bats, shrews, moles, hedgehogs, and aardvarks, all featuring nail or claw structure.
- Based on limb and paw anatomy, these species formed a common lineage that fit into the Unguiculata grouping in taxonomic arrangements of yore.
- Classifying extinct mammalian lineages required reliance on identifying which types featured unguiculata limb anatomy for relative organization in related field.