🦎 Above the temple 🦴 A skull bone

supratemporal

9.9

A bone above the bone on the side of the head found in some reptiles and early amphibians

noun
/ˌsuːprəˈtɛmpərəl/

Specialized

: hueso supratemporal

The paleontologist identified the supratemporal bone in the fossilized skull of the ancient reptile.

Examples

In some species, the supratemporal is fused with neighboring bones as the animal matures.
Damage to the supratemporal can provide clues about the animal's evolutionary history.
The supratemporal bone is crucial for understanding reptilian anatomy.
Many fossils show the presence of supratemporals in ancient species.
The paleontologist identified the supratemporal bone in the fossilized skull of the ancient reptile.
Damage to the supratemporal can provide clues about the animal's evolutionary history.
In some species, the supratemporal is fused with neighboring bones as the animal matures.

Surface Forms

supratemporal singular

supratemporals plural

Morphology

supratemporal = temporal (semi-transparent) = supra + temporal

Formally derived by prefixing 'supra-' to 'temporal' to indicate a structure above the temporal region; the composition is clear but anatomically specialized.

Etymology

Supratemporal as a bone takes its name from supra- 'above' and temporal 'temple', the side of the head. So the name tells you it is the bone that sits 'above' the temporal area in many reptiles and early amphibians.