Dinosauria :: Dinosauria (n. pl.) An order of extinct mesozoic reptiles, mostly of large size (whence the name). Notwithstanding their size, they present birdlike characters in the skeleton, esp. in the pelvis and hind limbs. Some walked on their three-toed hind feet, thus producing the large bird tracks, so-called, of mesozoic sandstones; others were five-toed and quadrupedal. See Illust. of Compsognathus, also Illustration of Dinosaur in Appendix..
Enaliosauria :: Enaliosauria (n. pl.) An extinct group of marine reptiles, embracing both the Ichthyosauria and the Plesiosauria, now regarded as distinct orders..
Ichthyosauria :: Ichthyosauria (n. pl.) An extinct order of marine reptiles, including Ichthyosaurus and allied forms; -- called also Ichthyopterygia. They have not been found later than the Cretaceous period..
Ichthyosaurian :: Ichthyosaurian (a.) Of or pertaining to the Ichthyosauria.
Mosasauria :: Mosasauria (n. pl.) An order of large, extinct, marine reptiles, found in the Cretaceous rocks, especially in America. They were serpentlike in form and in having loosely articulated and dilatable jaws, with large recurved tteth, but they had paddlelike feet. Some of them were over fifty feet long. They are, essentially, fossil sea serpents with paddles. Called also Pythonomarpha, and Mosasauria..
Mosasaurian :: Mosasaurian (n.) One of an extinct order of reptiles, including Mosasaurus and allied genera. See Mosasauria..
Ornithosauria :: Ornithosauria (n. pl.) An order of extinct flying reptiles; -- called also Pterosauria.
Pelicosauria :: Pelicosauria (n. pl.) A suborder of Theromorpha, including terrestrial reptiles from the Permian formation..
Plesiosauria :: Plesiosauria (n. pl.) An extinct order of Mesozoic marine reptiles including the genera Plesiosaurus, and allied forms; -- called also Sauropterygia..
Pterosauria :: Pterosauria (n. pl.) An extinct order of flying reptiles of the Mesozoic age; the pterodactyls; -- called also Pterodactyli, and Ornithosauria..
Pterosaurian :: Pterosaurian (a.) Of or pertaining to the Pterosauria.
Sauria :: Sauria (n. pl.) A division of Reptilia formerly established to include the Lacertilia, Crocodilia, Dinosauria, and other groups. By some writers the name is restricted to the Lacertilia..
Saurian :: Saurian (a.) Of or pertaining to, or of the nature of, the Sauria..
Sea Saurian :: Sea saurian (n.) Any marine saurian; esp. (Paleon.) the large extinct species of Mosasaurus, Icthyosaurus, Plesiosaurus, and related genera..
Stegosauria :: Stegocephala (n. pl.) An extinct order of amphibians found fossil in the Mesozoic rocks; called also Stegocephali, and Labyrinthodonta..