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Glite Dictionary
Prosauropoda

Prosauropoda

9.9
Early plant-eating dinosaurs that lived before the big long-necked dinosaurs
  • noun
  • Specialized
: Prosauropoda
  • Unlike their larger descendants, Prosauropoda were generally smaller and less massive.

Examples

  • The fossils of Prosauropoda provide valuable insight into the evolution of early dinosaurs.

  • The Prosauropoda were among the first dinosaurs to walk on two legs.

  • Paleontologists have discovered new specimens of Prosauropoda in South America.

  • Did you know that the Prosauropoda lived during the Triassic period?

  • Paleontologists have discovered new specimens of Prosauropoda in South America.

  • The fossils of Prosauropoda provide valuable insight into the evolution of early dinosaurs.

  • Unlike their larger descendants, Prosauropoda were generally smaller and less massive.

Surface Forms

Prosauropoda singular
Prosauropodas plural

Morphology

Prosauropoda = Sauropoda (opaque) = pro + sauro + poda

The prefix 'pro-' suggests 'before', but 'Sauropoda' is a technical term and not transparent to most learners.

Etymology

Prosauropoda is built from pro- 'before' and parts that mean 'lizard' (saur-) and 'feet' (-poda), the same 'saur' you see in dinosaur and the 'pod' you see in tripod. So Prosauropoda are the early, plant-eating dinosaurs that lived before the large, long-necked sauropods.