archegosaurus
|ar-che-go-sau-rus|
🇺🇸
/ˌɑrkiəˈsɔrəs/
🇬🇧
/ˌɑːkiəˈsɔːrəs/
leader-lizard → extinct amphibian genus
Etymology
'archegosaurus' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'archegos' and 'sauros', where 'archegos' meant 'leader' or 'chief' and 'sauros' meant 'lizard'.
'archegosaurus' was formed in New Latin as a scientific genus name in paleontology (19th century), combining the Greek elements and later adopted into modern scientific usage as 'Archegosaurus'.
Initially it literally meant 'leader (or chief) lizard' from its Greek elements, but over time it evolved into the proper name of an extinct amphibian genus and is used in taxonomic contexts rather than as a descriptive phrase.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a genus of extinct temnospondyl amphibians from the Permian period, known from fossils found in Europe; members of this genus were aquatic, salamander-like amphibians.
Archegosaurus fossils indicate an aquatic lifestyle with elongated bodies and tail adaptations for swimming.
Noun 2
a member (individual animal or fossil) of the genus Archegosaurus.
The museum display included an articulated Archegosaurus specimen reconstructed from Permian deposits.
Last updated: 2025/10/05 15:52