archosaur
nounEtymology From taxonomic name Archosauria (“taxonomic division of extinct reptiles”), from Ancient Greek ἄρχων (árkhōn, “leader”) + σαύρα (saúra, “lizard”).
1
A reptile of the taxon Archosauria, which includes modern crocodilians and birds, as well as the extinct pterosaurs, non-avian dinosaurs and other taxa.
- The predominance of archosaurs over other reptiles might be a consequence of their more advanced mode of locomotion compared with their relatives.2012, Winand Brinkmann, Kenneth De Baets, editors, Paleontological Museum of the University of Zürich: Exhibition Guide, Paleontological Institute and Museum of the University of Zürich, →ISBN, page 77:
- Synonyms
- archosaur
- Hypernyms
- reptile
- Hyponyms
- dinosaur, ichthyosaur, plesiosaur, pterosaur, crocodile