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Glite Dictionary
anapsid

anapsid

9.9
A reptile with no holes on the sides of its skull, like early reptiles and turtles
  • noun
  • /əˈnæpsɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : anapsido
  • Paleontologists debated whether turtles are truly anapsids or if they lost their skull openings secondarily.

Examples

  • Unlike diapsids, anapsids lack temporal fenestrae in their skulls.

  • The fossil revealed that the creature was an anapsid, indicating it was closely related to turtles.

  • The anapsid is a unique type of reptile.

  • Many anapsids lived during the Mesozoic era.

  • Paleontologists debated whether turtles are truly anapsids or if they lost their skull openings secondarily.

  • The fossil revealed that the creature was an anapsid, indicating it was closely related to turtles.

  • Unlike diapsids, anapsids lack temporal fenestrae in their skulls.

Synonyms

anapsid reptile
vsanapsid
  • Specialized
9.9

An early reptile with a skull that has no openings at the sides, now only turtles

includes extinct groups as well as living turtles

Antonyms

diapsid
  • Specialized
9.9

A reptile with two holes in the skull behind each eye

Compounds

anapsid reptile
  • Specialized
9.9

An early reptile with a skull that has no openings at the sides, now only turtles

Surface Forms

anapsid singular
anapsids plural

Morphology

anapsid = apsid (opaque) = an + apsid

The prefix 'an-' (without) is recognizable, but 'apsid' is a technical combining form unfamiliar to general learners, so the meaning is not inferable by a typical B1 learner.

Etymology

The word anapsid comes from Greek parts an- meaning 'without' and -apsid from apsis, which means 'arch' or 'opening'. So an anapsid is a reptile 'without' the side openings in its skull, as in turtles.