synapsid
|syn-ap-sid|
/ˈsɪnæpsɪd/
single temporal opening (skull)
Etymology
'synapsid' originates from New Latin 'Synapsida', ultimately from Greek 'synapsis' (from 'syn-' meaning 'together' and 'haptein' meaning 'to fasten'), where 'syn-' meant 'together' and 'haptein' meant 'to fasten'.
'synapsid' was formed from the New Latin taxonomic name 'Synapsida' used in zoology and later adapted into English as 'synapsid' to refer both to members of that group and to describe related characteristics.
Initially it referred to the structural idea of a 'joining' (from 'synapsis'), but over time it evolved to denote the specific clade of amniotes (mammals and their relatives) known as Synapsida.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a member of Synapsida, a clade of amniotes that includes mammals and their extinct relatives; often used for fossil forms traditionally called "mammal-like reptiles."
The fossil was identified as a synapsid from the Permian period.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
relating to or characteristic of synapsids or the clade Synapsida.
Synapsid skulls typically have a single temporal opening below the cheekbone.
Last updated: 2025/08/20 09:38