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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

  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.

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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. )
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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The collection will depict a temnodontosaurus - a large-jawed marine reptile, a plesiosaurus - a large marine sauropterygian reptile, and a dimorphodon - a small flying reptile.

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