A crocodile-like reptile of the Late Triassic suborder Phytosauria.
Formerly used only of the genus Phytosaurus..
Origin
Early 20th century; earliest use found in Science. From phyto- + -saur, after either scientific Latin Phytosauria, suborder name or scientific Latin Phytosaurus, genus name, so called on account of the supposition at the time that the animals were herbivorous.