Therapsida
- noun
- Specialized
- Paleontologists believe that mammals evolved from certain groups within the Therapsida.
Examples
-
The extinction of most Therapsida coincided with major climate changes at the end of the Triassic period.
-
Fossils of Therapsida have been discovered on every continent, indicating their wide distribution.
-
The Therapsida were crucial in the evolution of mammals.
-
Did you know that Therapsida lived during the Triassic period?
-
The ancient order Therapsida includes the evolutionary ancestors of modern mammals.
-
Scientists study fossils of Therapsida to understand the transition from reptiles to mammals.
-
During the Triassic period, the Therapsida thrived before going extinct in the late Mesozoic era.
Synonyms
An extinct group of reptiles that looked like early mammals and lived long ago
Compounds
- Specialized
An extinct group of reptiles that looked like early mammals and lived long ago
Surface Forms
Etymology
Therapsida comes from Greek parts: ther- meaning 'beast' and -apsida, a name part used for groups of reptiles, so it literally means 'beast-like reptiles'. That's why the name fits an extinct group of mammal-like reptiles that gave rise to modern mammals.