lepospondyln.adj.
/lɛpəʊˈspɒndɪl/ A. n.
An extinct amphibian belonging to the suborder Lepospondyli, distinguished by vertebrae shaped like hourglasses.
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the world > animals > amphibians > [noun] > extinct types of > lepospondyl
lepospondyl1933
1933 A. S. Romer Vertebr. Paleontol. v. 112 In the lepospondyls the vertebral centrum was a single hollow spool-shaped ossification.
1958 C. K. Weichert Anat. Chordates (ed. 2) xix. 850 Stegocephalia... Fossil forms: labyrinthodonts, lepospondyls, and phyllospondyls, varying primarily in structure of vertebral column.
1971 E. C. Olson Vertebr. Paleozool. vii. 297 Like the other lepospondyls they [sc. Lysorophus and its relatives] are highly specialized.
B. adj.
Of or pertaining to an amphibian of this type.
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the world > animals > amphibians > [adjective] > of extinct types
labyrinthodont1841
cheirotherian1855
mastodonsaurian1865
lepospondylous1901
lepospondyl1933
1933 A. S. Romer Vertebr. Paleontol. v. 112 The divergence of the various lepospondyl groups must have taken place at an extremely early date.
1971 E. C. Olson Vertebr. Paleozool. vii. 296 (caption) A lepospondyl (microsaur) skull.
Derivatives
lepoˈspondylous adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > amphibians > [adjective] > of extinct types
labyrinthodont1841
cheirotherian1855
mastodonsaurian1865
lepospondylous1901
lepospondyl1933
1901 H. Gadow in Cambr. Nat. Hist. VIII. iv. 79 The vertebræ [of Stegocephali] exhibit three types... 1. Lepospondylous and pseudocentrous.—The vertebra consists of a thin shell of bone surrounding the chorda dorsalis.
1902 C. R. Eastman tr. K. A. von Zittel Text-bk. Palaeontol. II. 118 (caption) Lepospondylous vertebrae of Hylonomus.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1976; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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n.adj.1901