therapsid
[ thuh-rap-sid ]
/ θəˈræp sɪd /
noun
any of various groups of mammallike reptiles of the extinct order Therapsida, inhabiting all continents from mid-Permian to late Triassic times, some of which were probably warm-blooded and directly ancestral to mammals.
adjective
of or relating to the Therapsida.
Origin of therapsid
< New Latin
Therapsida (1905), equivalent to Greek
thēr- (stem of
thḗr wild beast) +
apsid- (stem of
apsís arch, vault, referring to the temporal arch of the skull) + New Latin
-a neuter plural ending (see
-a1)
Words nearby therapsid
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there
British Dictionary definitions for therapsid
therapsid
/ (θəˈræpsɪd) /
noun
any extinct reptile of the order Therapsida, of Permian to Triassic times: considered to be the ancestors of mammals
Word Origin for therapsid
C20: from New Latin
Therapsida, from Greek
thēr beast + Latin
apsis arch
Scientific definitions for therapsid
therapsid
[ thə-răp′sĭd ]
Any of a group of amniotes that emerged in the Permian Period. Therapsids developed differentiated dentition, with nipping, biting, and crushing teeth, and (unlike diapsids) had forelimbs that were more greatly developed than hindlimbs. Therapsids include the so-called mammallike reptiles of the Permian and Triassic Periods, as well as mammals. Compare anapsid diapsid synapsid.