pelycosaur

/ˌpɛlɪkoʊˈsɔr/

Meanings

noun

Any of a group of basal or primitive Late Paleozoic synapsid amniotes, part of a polyphyletic grade, formerly regarded as order Pelycosauria.

Examples :

"While not technically dinosaurs, the sail-backed Dimetrodon is a well-known example of a pelycosaur. "

Related Words

backed verb

/bækt/

To go in the reverse direction.

"the train backed into the station; the horse refuses to back"

technically adverb

/ˈtɛknɪkli/

Based on precise facts.

"Technically he was Canadian, but everyone assumed he was American."

polyphyletic adjective

/ˌpɑliˌfaɪˈlɛtɪk/ /ˌpɒlɪˌfaɪˈlɛtɪk/

Having multiple ancestral sources; referring to a taxon that does not contain the most recent common ancestor of its members.

"Calling "warm-blooded animals" a group would be polyphyletic because birds and mammals evolved warm-bloodedness independently, not from a single warm-blooded ancestor they both share. "

regarded verb

/ɹɪˈɡɑːdɪd/ /ɹɪˈɡɑɹdɪd/

To look at; to observe.

"She regarded us warily."

formerly adverb

/ˈfɔːməli/ /ˈfɔɹmɚli/

At some time in the past

"My formerly quiet neighborhood is now very busy with new construction. "

dimetrodon noun

/daɪˈmɛtrədɑn/ /daɪˈmiːtrədɑn/

A carnivorous synapsid, of the genus Dimetrodon, from the Permian period

"The museum display featured a skeleton of a dimetrodon, a prehistoric animal with a large sail on its back. "

amniotes noun

/ˈam.nɪ.əʊts/

Any of the Amniota group of vertebrates having an amnion during the development of the embryo; mammals, birds and reptiles.

"Because their embryos develop inside protective membranes, including the amnion, humans, chickens, and lizards are all considered amniotes. "

dinosaurs noun

/ˈdaɪnəˌsɔrz/ /ˈdaɪnəˌsɔərz/

In scientific usage, any of the animals belonging to the clade Dinosauria, especially those that existed during the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods and are now extinct.

"Many children are fascinated by dinosaurs, especially the huge ones that lived millions of years ago. "

synapsid noun

/sɪˈnapsɪd/

Any animal (including all mammals) of the class Synapsida.

"Paleontologists studying early mammal evolution classify the ancient Dimetrodon as a synapsid, a group distinguished by a single opening in the skull behind the eye. "

paleozoic adjective

/ˌpeɪliəˈzoʊɪk/ /ˌpæliəˈzoʊɪk/

Of a geologic era within the Phanerozoic eon that comprises the Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous and Permian periods from about 542 to 250 million years ago, from the age of trilobites to that of reptiles.

"My daughter is learning about the Paleozoic era in her Earth Science class, studying fossils of sea creatures from that ancient time. "

example noun

/əɡˈzæmpl̩/ /ɘɡˈzɐːmpɯ/ /ɪɡˈzɑːmpl̩/

Something that is representative of all such things in a group.

"The teacher gave a good example of a sentence using the past tense. "

primitive noun

/ˈpɹɪmɪtɪv/

An original or primary word; a word not derived from another, as opposed to derivative.

""Home" is a primitive word for the place where we live. "