metatherian

American  

[met-uh-theer-ee-uhn] / ˌmɛt əˈθɪər i ən /

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the group Metatheria, comprising the marsupial mammals.

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noun

1. a metatherian animal.

metatherian British  

/ ˌmɛtəˈθɪərɪən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Metatheria, a subclass of mammals comprising the marsupials

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noun

1. any metatherian mammal; a marsupial

Etymology

Origin of metatherian

1875–80; < New Latin Metatheri ( a ) name of the group (< Greek meta- meta- + thēría, plural of thēríon animal) + -an

Example Sentences

Only one of these is a metatherian; these marsupial ancestors, once so abundant in the Cretaceous, were nearly extinguished.

From Scientific American • May 17, 2022

That context is part of what makes a new Eocene metatherian stand out.

From Scientific American • Sep. 16, 2017

Where the metatherian lived might have had something to do with that. 

From Scientific American • Sep. 16, 2017

In the ensuing Paleogene, it was the placental mammals that took advantage of the metatherian demise and blossomed into the many familiar groups we know today, including our primate forebears.

From Scientific American • Aug. 28, 2015

Yet, in the Paleogene, only two major metatherian groups can be found in all of North America.

From Slate • Feb. 7, 2013