ornithischian
/ˌɔːnɪˈθɪskɪən
/ /ˌɔːnɪˈθɪʃɪən/Palaeontology
adjective
Relating to or denoting herbivorous dinosaurs of an order distinguished by having a pelvic structure resembling that of birds. Compare with saurischian.The University of California Museum of Paleontology is proud to present displays of ornithischian dinosaurs....
- Meanwhile, the much smaller ornithischian dinosaurs - the ornithopods and stegosaurs - browsed on the undergrowth.
- The williams Fork Formation preserves a diverse dinosaur fauna containing at least nine saurischian and five ornithischian species.
noun
An ornithischian dinosaur.
- Order Ornithischia, superorder Dinosauria; comprises the stegosaurs, ankylosaurs, ornithopods, pachycephalosaurs, and ceratopsians.
- The thyreophorans are the armored ornithischians: the stegosaurs and ankylosaurs.
- A number of interesting structural adaptations were developed within the ornithischians.
Origin
Early 20th century: from modern Latin Ornithiscia, from Greek ornis, ornith- 'bird' + iskhion 'hip joint'.