prototherian

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

/ ˌproʊ təˈθɪər i ən /

adjective

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

noun

a prototherian animal.

Nearby words

protosemitic, protospasm, protostar, protostele, protostome, prototherian, prototroph, prototrophic, prototype, prototypical, protovertebra

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for 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

/ (ˌprəʊtəʊˈθɪərɪən) /

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