The generic name proteles comes from two words both of Greek origin, protos and teleos which combined means "complete in front" based on the fact that they have five toes on their front feet and four on the rear.
ðə dʒənˈɛɹɪk nˈeɪm pɹˈoʊɾəlz kˈʌmz fɹʌm tˈuː wˈɜːdz bˈoʊθ ʌv ɡɹˈiːk ˈɔːɹɪdʒˌɪn, pɹˈoʊɾoʊz ænd tˈɛlᵻˌoʊz wˌɪtʃ kəmbˈaɪnd mˈiːnz "kəmplˈiːt ɪn fɹˈʌnt" bˈeɪst ɔnðə fˈækt ðæt ðeɪ hæv fˈaɪv tˈoʊz ˌɔn ðɛɹ fɹˈʌnt fˈiːt ænd fˈoːɹ ɔnðə ɹˈɪɹ.