Saursichian

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Definitions

  1. Relating to a group of extinct reptiles characterized by lizard-like hips and comprising many species including dinosaurs ; pertaining to a major clade within reptiles known for specific pelvic structures and evolutionary traits ; describing ancient vertebrates distinguished by their distinctive hip bone arrangements and often linked to prehistoric dinosaur lineages
  2. Connected to a subclass of reptiles marked by their lizard-shaped pelvic bones and a broad diversity that includes both carnivorous and herbivorous forms ; referring to a lineage within prehistoric reptiles that share a common ancestor defined by a unique skeletal feature ; indicating an evolutionary group of reptiles with hips structured similarly to modern lizards, encompassing many well-known prehistoric animals
  3. Associated with a classification of reptiles characterized by a distinctive lizard-like hip configuration that influenced vertebrate evolution ; relating to a clade of ancient reptiles distinguished by their pelvic anatomy and extensive fossil representation ; concerning a grouping of prehistoric creatures with hip structures resembling those of lizards, significant in the study of dinosaur origins

Etymology: The name "saurischian" is built from two Greek words: "sauros," meaning lizard, and "ischion," meaning hip joint. Paleontologist Harry Govier Seeley introduced the group in 1888 for dinosaurs with a pelvis that resembles a lizard's, with the pubis bone pointing forward. Seeley paired it with the "bird-hipped" Ornithischia, a name that suggests a closer relationship to birds than the lizard-hipped group has, which turns out to be the reverse of the truth. Birds descend from theropods, which belong to the lizard-hipped group. Their backward-pointing pubis evolved independently of the bird-hipped dinosaurs, so the labels describe a resemblance in pelvic shape rather than ancestry. Today the names still mark the two main branches of dinosaurs, though the bird-hipped name is now understood to be a misleading description of the pelvis.

Synonyms: saurischian, dinosaur