What does ichthyosaur mean?
Definitions for ichthyosaur
ˈɪk θi əˌsɔrichthyosaur
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word ichthyosaur.
Princeton's WordNet
ichthyosaurnoun
any of several marine reptiles of the Mesozoic having a body like a porpoise with dorsal and tail fins and paddle-shaped limbs
Wiktionary
ichthyosaurnoun
Any of several extinct fishlike reptiles, of the order Ichthyosauria, that had a body somewhat like a porpoise.
Etymology: Adaptation of modern Latin ichthyosaurus.
Wikipedia
Ichthyosaur
Ichthyosaurs (Ancient Greek for "fish lizard" – Ancient Greek: ἰχθύς, romanized: ichthys, lit. 'fish' and Ancient Greek: σαῦρος, romanized: sauros, lit. 'lizard') are large extinct marine reptiles. Ichthyosaurs belong to the order known as Ichthyosauria or Ichthyopterygia ('fish flippers' – a designation introduced by Sir Richard Owen in 1842, although the term is now used more for the parent clade of the Ichthyosauria). Ichthyosaurs thrived during much of the Mesozoic era; based on fossil evidence, they first appeared around 250 million years ago (Ma) and at least one species survived until about 90 million years ago, into the Late Cretaceous. During the Early Triassic epoch, ichthyosaurs and other ichthyosauromorphs evolved from a group of unidentified land reptiles that returned to the sea, in a development similar to how the mammalian land-dwelling ancestors of modern-day dolphins and whales returned to the sea millions of years later, which they gradually came to resemble in a case of convergent evolution. Ichthyosaurs were particularly abundant in the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic periods, until they were replaced as the top aquatic predators by another marine reptilian group, the Plesiosauria, in the later Jurassic and Early Cretaceous, though previous views of ichthyosaur decline during this period are probably overstated. Ichthyosaurs diversity declined due to environmental volatility caused by climatic upheavals in the early Late Cretaceous, becoming extinct around the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary approximately 90 million years ago. Science became aware of the existence of ichthyosaurs during the early nineteenth century, when the first complete skeletons were found in England. In 1834, the order Ichthyosauria was named. Later that century, many excellently preserved ichthyosaur fossils were discovered in Germany, including soft-tissue remains. Since the late twentieth century, there has been a revived interest in the group, leading to an increased number of named ichthyosaurs from all continents, with over fifty valid genera being now known. Ichthyosaur species varied from 1 to 20 metres (3 to 66 ft) in length. Ichthyosaurs resembled both modern fish and dolphins. Their limbs had been fully transformed into flippers, which sometimes contained a very large number of digits and phalanges. At least some species possessed a dorsal fin. Their heads were pointed, and the jaws often were equipped with conical teeth to catch smaller prey. Some species had larger, bladed teeth to attack large animals. The eyes were very large, for deep diving. The neck was short, and later species had a rather stiff trunk. These also had a more vertical tail fin, used for a powerful propulsive stroke. The vertebral column, made of simplified disc-like vertebrae, continued into the lower lobe of the tail fin. Ichthyosaurs were air-breathing, warm-blooded, and bore live young. They may have had a layer of blubber for insulation.
ChatGPT
ichthyosaur
An ichthyosaur is a type of extinct marine reptile that lived during the Mesozoic era. These creatures resembled dolphins or sharks, with streamlined bodies, large eyes, and powerful fins for swimming. They were carnivorous, feeding on fish and other small marine creatures. The name "ichthyosaur" comes from the Greek words for "fish" and "lizard."
Webster Dictionary
Ichthyosaurnoun
one of the Ichthyosaura
Etymology: [Cf. F. ichthyosaure.]
Wikidata
Ichthyosaur
Ichthyosaurs were giant marine reptiles that resembled dolphins in a textbook example of convergent evolution. Ichthyosaurs thrived during much of the Mesozoic era; based on fossil evidence, they first appeared approximately 245 million years ago and at least one species survived until about 90 million years ago, into the early Cretaceous. During the middle Triassic Period, ichthyosaurs evolved from a group of, as yet, unidentified land reptiles that moved back into the water, in a development parallel to that of the ancestors of modern-day dolphins and whales. They were particularly abundant in the Jurassic Period, until they were replaced as the top aquatic predators by another reptilian order, the plesiosaurs, in the Cretaceous Period. Ichthyosaurs belong to the order known as Ichthyosauria or Ichthyopterygia.
Matched Categories
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
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Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of ichthyosaur in Chaldean Numerology is: 2
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of ichthyosaur in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3
References
Translations for ichthyosaur
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"ichthyosaur." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 Dec. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/ichthyosaur>.
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