cynodont
1
9.9
A small extinct reptile-like animal that was an early relative of mammals and had mammal-like teeth
- noun
- /ˈsɪnəˌdɒnt/
- Specialized
:
cinodonte
- Scientists believe that cynodonts were among the first reptiles to exhibit characteristics similar to mammals.
Examples
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The fossils of several cynodonts have been found in South Africa, showcasing their unique teeth.
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And I, I used early cynodonts because the late cynodonts are much more like mammalian brains.
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During the Triassic period, the small cynodont was a fierce predator, hunting insects and small vertebrates.
Surface Forms
Morphology
cynodont = cyno + dont
The word is a technical taxonomic compound built from Greek combining forms ('cyno-' + '-dont') that are not standalone English words, so an average learner cannot derive the meaning from familiar English bases.
Etymology
Cynodont comes from Greek parts cyno- 'dog' and -odont 'tooth', so it literally means 'dog-tooth' and helps you remember that these small, extinct reptiles had mammal-like teeth and are ancestors of mammals.