anthracosaurus
|an-thra-co-saur-us|
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/ˌænθrəˈkɔːsərəs/
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/ˌænθrəˈkɒsərəs/
coal-lizard (extinct fossil genus)
Etymology
'anthracosaurus' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'anthrax' (ἄνθραξ) meaning 'coal' and 'sauros' (σαῦρος) meaning 'lizard'.
'anthracosaurus' was formed in New Latin as a scientific genus name by combining the Greek roots 'anthrax' + 'sauros' and was applied to fossil remains described by 19th-century paleontologists.
Initially it literally meant 'coal lizard' (a descriptive compound of Greek roots); over time it has been used specifically as the taxonomic name of an extinct genus rather than a literal description.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an extinct genus of large, early tetrapod (anthracosaur/temnospondyl-reptiliomorph) known from Carboniferous fossil remains; the name literally means 'coal lizard' and refers to its occurrence in coal-bearing strata.
Anthracosaurus is known from fossils found in Carboniferous rocks in what is now Scotland.
Last updated: 2025/08/25 06:02