amniote

noun

am·​ni·​ote ˈam-nē-ˌōt How to pronounce amniote (audio)
: any of a group (Amniota) of vertebrates that undergo embryonic or fetal development within an amnion and include the birds, reptiles, and mammals
amniote adjective

Examples of amniote in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The scientists dated the fossil to between 354 million and 359 million years ago, which would mean that amniotes existed at least 35 million years earlier than previously thought. Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 May 2025 Earliest amniote tracks recalibrate the timeline of tetrapod evolution Before joining Discover Magazine, Paul Smaglik spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S. life science policy and global scientific career issues. Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 14 May 2025 Previously, the earliest amniote fossils dated back to about 320 million years old to the late Carboniferous. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 May 2025 The tuatara genome reveals ancient features of amniote evolution. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 22 July 2024 Molecular diversity and evolution of neuron types in the amniote brain Behavioural processes. Lily Carey, Discover Magazine, 8 Apr. 2024 Three-dimensional skin cast and compression fossils from unknown amniotes. Evan Bush, NBC News, 11 Jan. 2024 The fossils are a kind of milepost for when amniotes were settling in on land and establishing the foundational traits of later creatures like fuzzy mammals and feathery dinosaurs. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Jan. 2024 Described Thursday in Current Biology, these tatters of fossil skin and various skin impressions come from some of the earliest amniotes. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Amniota, from amnion

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of amniote was in 1878

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Cite this Entry

“Amniote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amniote. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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