nothosaur
- noun
- /ˈnōthəˌsôr/
- Specialized
- Unlike plesiosaurs, the nothosaur had longer limbs, which allowed it to navigate its aquatic environment more effectively.
Examples
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But they, too, have developed a tough armour to keep them relatively safe from the great predators of the Triassic, like... the Nothosaur.
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The nothosaur was a unique marine reptile that thrived in the waters of the Triassic period.
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Fossils of the nothosaur have provided scientists with valuable insights into marine life during the Triassic.
Synonyms
A sea reptile from the Triassic period that is now extinct
Surface Forms
Morphology
nothosaur = Nothosaurus (opaque) = nothos + saur
Derived from Greek combining forms (nothos + saur) and a scientific genus name; the elements are not productive English morphemes for an average learner, so the meaning is not transparently recoverable.
Etymology
Nothosaur comes from Greek roots nothos meaning 'false' and sauros meaning 'lizard', and the same sauros appears in dinosaur. So, the name suggests a 'false lizard' — a long-ago sea reptile with both land and sea features, which explains why its limbs were less adapted for swimming.
