eutherian

American  

[yoo-theer-ee-uhn] / yuˈθɪər i ən /

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the group Eutheria, comprising the placental mammals.

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noun

1. a eutherian animal.

eutherian British  

/ juːˈθɪərɪən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Eutheria, a subclass of mammals all of which have a placenta and reach an advanced state of development before birth. The group includes all mammals except monotremes and marsupials

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noun

1. any eutherian mammal

Etymology

Origin of eutherian

1875–80; < New Latin Eutheri ( a ) (< Greek eu- eu- + thēría, plural of thēríon wild beast) + -an

Example Sentences

Some of the archaic species, such as taeniodonts, might have stemmed from Cretaceous eutherian ancestors and thus would be among the most primitive placentals on the trunk of the family tree.

From Scientific American • May 17, 2022

Around 100,000 years postasteroid a new eutherian appeared in Montana and swiftly became common.

From Scientific American • May 17, 2022

By focusing our comparison on only eutherian mammals, we discover functional elements relevant to this clade, including recent eutherian innovations.

From Nature • Oct. 26, 2011

Of the ~1.1 million constrained elements that arose during the 90 million years between the divergence from marsupials and the eutherian radiation, we can trace >19% to mobile element exaptations.

From Nature • Oct. 26, 2011

"At 160 million years old," he explains, " is now the oldest known eutherian, preceding the previous record-holder, Eomaia, by about 35 million years."

From Science Magazine • Aug. 24, 2011