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Glite Dictionary
diapsid

diapsid

9.9
A reptile with two holes in the skull behind each eye
  • noun
  • /ˈdaɪæpsɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : diápsido
  • Pterosaurs were flying diapsid reptiles (other diapsids include ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, lizards, crocodiles, and dinosaurs).
  • diapsid reptiles

Examples

  • Pterosaurs represent a group of flying diapsids that lived during the Mesozoic Era.

  • The diapsid skull is characterized by a pair of openings behind each eye.

  • Pterosaurs were flying diapsid reptiles (other diapsids include ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, lizards, crocodiles, and dinosaurs).

    Academic text (2007)

  • During evolution, many species emerged as diapsids, leading to the diverse reptiles we see today.

Synonyms

diapsid reptile
vsdiapsid
  • Specialized
9.9

A reptile with two openings in the skull behind each eye, like lizards and crocodiles

gives a descriptive explanation stressing that most modern and extinct reptiles are included

Antonyms

anapsid
  • Specialized
9.9

A reptile with no holes on the sides of its skull, like early reptiles and turtles

Compounds

diapsid reptile
  • Specialized
9.9

A reptile with two openings in the skull behind each eye, like lizards and crocodiles

Surface Forms

diapsid singular
diapsids plural

Morphology

diapsid = di + apsid

Formed from Greek combining elements (di- 'two' + apsid), but the combining element 'apsid' is a technical, non-standalone morpheme, so the meaning is not readily inferable by an average learner.

Etymology

Diapsid comes from Greek parts meaning 'two' (di-) and 'arch' or 'opening' (-apsid). So a diapsid is a reptile with a 'pair of openings' behind each eye, and this skull feature is what scientists use to group many modern and extinct reptiles.