Hadrosaurids

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A family of large herbivorous dinosaurs distinguished by their broad, duck-billed snouts and often elaborate cranial crests; primarily from the Late Cretaceous period; creatures known for their extensive fossil record and varied species
2. Dinosaurs recognized by their wide, flattened beaks and frequently adorned skull crests, belonging to a group of plant-eaters from the Late Cretaceous; notable for their diversity and evolutionary adaptations documented in paleontology
3. A group of herbivorous Cretaceous-period dinosaurs characterized by broad, beak-like mouths and often complex head ornaments; known for their abundant remains and importance in understanding dinosaur ecology and diversity

Etymology: Hadrosaurids are the plural of "hadrosaurid", and the form is a scientific coinage built from Greek roots. The base word "hadrosaurus" combines Greek "hadros", meaning "bulky" or "stout", with "sauros", meaning "lizard". The name was given to the genus Hadrosaurus, and the family-level term "hadrosaurid" was formed from that genus name with the suffix "-id", which in zoology marks membership of a family. The name thus records an early impression of these animals as large, sturdy reptiles, even though the stout body was not the feature that later defined the group. Paleontologists now use "hadrosaurid" for the broader family of duck-billed dinosaurs, whose wide, flattened beaks and crests the term does not describe in its own roots.

Synonyms: duck-billed dinosaurs