anguimorpha
|an-gui-mor-pha|
🇺🇸
/ˌæŋɡwiˈmɔrfə/
🇬🇧
/ˌæŋɡwɪˈmɔːfə/
snake-form lizard clade
Etymology
'anguimorpha' originates from Neo-Latin, specifically the elements 'anguis' (Latin) and 'morphē' (Greek), where 'anguis' meant 'snake' and 'morphē' meant 'form'.
'anguimorpha' was coined in modern scientific Latin from 'anguis' + 'morphē' and eventually became the modern English word 'Anguimorpha'.
Initially, it meant 'snake-shaped forms' as a descriptive label, but over time it became established as the formal name of a lizard clade within 'Squamata'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a taxonomic clade within the order Squamata that includes groups such as monitor lizards, beaded lizards, glass lizards, alligator lizards, slowworms, the earless monitor, and their relatives.
In phylogenetic studies, anguimorpha includes monitor lizards and the Gila monster.
Last updated: 2025/08/09 19:53