SAUROPTERYGIA Meaning and
Definition
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Sauropterygia refers to an extinct order of reptiles that lived during the Mesozoic Era, specifically from the Late Triassic period to the Late Cretaceous period. The term "sauropterygia" is derived from Greek words, with “sauros” meaning lizard and “pteryx” meaning wing or fin, implying that these reptiles possessed fin-like structures. These marine reptiles are commonly known as plesiosaurs, a group that includes diverse species with varying body shapes and sizes.
Plesiosaurs were characterized by their long necks, elongated bodies, and paddle-like limbs modified into flippers. These adaptations allowed them to efficiently swim and navigate through the water. They had a highly specialized aquatic lifestyle and are often considered to be among the top predators in ancient seas.
The diet of sauropterygians primarily consisted of fish and other small prey, which they would catch using their sharp teeth and strong jaws. They were distributed across various marine environments, from shallow coastal waters to deeper oceanic regions. The fossil record provides evidence of their global distribution, with fossils found on multiple continents.
As with other reptiles, sauropterygians reproduced by laying eggs. Some species are believed to have returned to land to lay their eggs, while others may have given live birth, a rare reproductive strategy for reptiles.
Although the sauropterygians went extinct around the same time as the dinosaurs, their fossils have provided valuable insights into the evolutionary history and biology of marine reptiles during the Mesozoic Era.
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The flying reptiles; one of the thirteen orders of the reptiles proposed by Professor Owen.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for SAUROPTERYGIA
- aauropterygia
- zauropterygia
- xauropterygia
- dauropterygia
- eauropterygia
- wauropterygia
- szuropterygia
- ssuropterygia
- swuropterygia
- squropterygia
- sayropterygia
- sahropterygia
- sajropterygia
- sairopterygia
- sa8ropterygia
- sa7ropterygia
- saueopterygia
- saudopterygia
- saufopterygia
Etymology of SAUROPTERYGIA
The word "Sauropterygia" is derived from the Greek roots "sauros", meaning lizard, and "pteryx", meaning wing or fin. Sauropterygia refers to an extinct order of reptiles that lived during the Mesozoic era, which had a lizard-like body shape and aquatic adaptations such as paddle-like limbs. The name was coined in 1864 by the paleontologist Harry Govier Seeley to categorize this group of marine reptiles.
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