ENALIOSAURIA Meaning and
Definition
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Enaliosauria is an extinct group of marine reptiles that lived during the Mesozoic Era, specifically in the Triassic and Jurassic periods, approximately 245 to 145 million years ago. The term Enaliosauria is derived from the Greek words "enalios," meaning "of the sea," and "sauria," meaning "lizard," reflecting their aquatic nature.
Enaliosauria encompasses various reptile taxa that include ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs, which were highly adapted to marine life. These reptiles displayed a remarkable evolution in their body structure, specifically adapted for swimming and hunting in the ocean. They possessed streamlined bodies, elongated snouts, flippers or paddles instead of limbs, and some had a powerful tail for propulsion, allowing them to navigate through the water with agility and speed.
Ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs were both top predators in their respective marine ecosystems. Ichthyosaurs, which were more fish-like in appearance, had a streamlined body shape, large eyes, and sharp teeth for capturing fast-moving prey like fish and squid. Plesiosaurs, on the other hand, had a unique body structure with a long neck and four flippers, allowing them to move gracefully in the water while hunting for a variety of prey, including fish and mollusks.
Enaliosauria represents an important chapter in the evolutionary history of marine reptiles, showcasing their successful adaptation to the marine environment and their diverse ecological roles as apex predators. The extinction of enaliosaurians, along with other marine reptile groups, occurred during the Late Cretaceous period, perhaps due to environmental changes or competition with other marine vertebrates, such as sharks and early marine mammals.
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In geol., a group or order of fossil reptilians.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for ENALIOSAURIA
- wnaliosauria
- snaliosauria
- dnaliosauria
- rnaliosauria
- 4naliosauria
- 3naliosauria
- ebaliosauria
- emaliosauria
- ejaliosauria
- ehaliosauria
- enzliosauria
- ensliosauria
- enwliosauria
- enqliosauria
- enakiosauria
- enapiosauria
- enaoiosauria
- enaluosauria
- enaljosauria
- enalkosauria
Etymology of ENALIOSAURIA
The word "Enaliosauria" is derived from two Greek words: "Enalios", meaning "of the sea", and "sauros", meaning "lizard". This term was coined by the French paleontologist Henri Émile Sauvage in 1897 to refer to a group of marine reptiles that lived during the Mesozoic Era. Enaliosauria includes various ancient marine creatures such as ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, and mosasaurs.
Similar spelling words for ENALIOSAURIA
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