Titanosaurs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Enormous long-necked sauropod dinosaurs from the Mesozoic era, characterized by their massive size and quadrupedal stance
2. Colossal herbivorous dinosaurs with extremely long necks and tails that inhabited the Earth during the Mesozoic period
3. Gigantic plant-eating dinosaurs featuring exceptionally elongated necks and bodies, among the largest terrestrial animals ever known

Etymology: Titanosaurs are a group of long-necked sauropod dinosaurs, and the word "titanosaur" is built from "Titan," the giant deities of Greek myth, and "saur," from the Greek "sauros," meaning lizard. Together the name means something like "giant lizard," a fitting label for animals that included some of the largest land animals known. The name was given to the group as a whole rather than to a single creature, so "titanosaurs" refers to the many species that share this lineage. Their fossils have been found on several continents, which is part of why the group is so widely discussed in palaeontology.

Synonyms: sauropods, dinosaurs