sauropterygian

[ saw-rop-tuh-rij-ee-uhn ]

noun

1. any of various Mesozoic marine reptiles of the superorder Sauropterygia, including the suborder Plesiosauria.

adjective

1. of or relating to a sauropterygian.

sauropterygian

/ sô-rŏp′tə-rĭj′ē-ən /

1. Any of various extinct aquatic reptiles of the group Sauropterygia of the Mesozoic Era. Sauropterygians were carnivorous, had paddlelike limbs, and included the plesiosaurs. They were distantly related to the dinosaurs.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sauropterygian¹

First recorded in 1855–60; New Latin Sauropterygi(a) (equivalent to Greek saûro(s) “lizard” + pteryg- , stem of ptéryx “wing” + -ia ( def ) ) + -an ( def )