prototherian

[proh-tuh-theer-ee-uh n]

adjective

belonging or pertaining to the group Prototheria, comprising the monotremes.

noun

a prototherian animal.

Origin of prototherian

1880–85; < New Latin Prototheri(a) (< Greek prōto- proto- + thēría, plural of thēríon beast) + -an

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for prototherian

Historical Examples of prototherian

And on this view may be explained the retention of Prototherian characters.
The Cambridge Natural History, Vol X., Mammalia
Frank Evers Beddard

British Dictionary definitions for prototherian

prototherian

adjective

of, relating to, or belonging to the Prototheria, a subclass of mammals that includes the monotremes

noun

any prototherian mammal; a monotreme

Compare eutherian, metatherian

Word Origin for prototherian

C19: New Latin, from proto- + Greek theria wild animals

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012