plesiosaurus
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- noun
- /ˌplɛziˈoʊsɔrəs/
- Scientists believe the plesiosaurus used its long neck to hunt for prey in the water.
Examples
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Children at the museum were fascinated by the skeleton of a plesiosaurus.
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The fossilized remains of a plesiosaurus were discovered near the coast.
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The plesiosaurus swam gracefully through the ancient seas.
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Did the plesiosaurus have a long neck?
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The complete fossil of a plesiosaurus was displayed at the museum, showcasing its long neck and paddle-like limbs.
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Paleontologists believe the plesiosaurus swam gracefully in the oceans of the Jurassic period.
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Children were excited to see a model of a plesiosaurus, with its characteristic small head and long neck.
Synonyms
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A now extinct sea reptile with a small head, long neck, short tail, and four flippers
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A large sea reptile with a very long neck that lived in the time of dinosaurs
Surface Forms
Morphology
plesiosaurus = plesio + saurus
The word is a scientific name formed from Greek combining forms that are not standalone English words, so an average learner cannot reliably derive its meaning (although '-saurus' may be partly recognizable from dinosaur names).
Etymology
The word plesiosaurus comes from Greek roots plesios meaning 'near' and sauros meaning 'lizard'. The -saurus part is the same as in dinosaur, so the name gives the idea of a lizard-like animal that lived in the sea and helps explain why a plesiosaurus is a long-necked marine reptile rather than a true dinosaur.