archosaur
noun
ar·cho·saur
ˈär-kə-ˌsȯr 
: any of a subclass (Archosauria) of reptiles comprising the dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and crocodilians
Examples of archosaur in a Sentence
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Scientists have unveiled a new species of archosaur, a reptile that existed around the dawn of the dinosaurs.
—
Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 15 Aug. 2023
That's because the initial dig was focused more on ancient mammal fossils, so these archosaur fossils gathered academic dust for a time.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 15 Aug. 2023
They were also accompanied by archosaurs, a group that included early dinosaurs.
—Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 21 June 2023
At the end of the Triassic period, small-sized dinosaurs roamed Earth alongside other groups of archosaurs—that is, until a widespread extinction event cleared the way for dinos to put on some serious size.
—Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 16 May 2023
The new analysis of the two Chinese pterosaurs’ pycnofibers, however, could be seen as evidence for another hypothesis: that the currently unknown archosaur ancestor of both dinosaurs and pterosaurs had feathers of some type, and passed the trait down to both groups.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 17 Dec. 2018
Finding evidence of warm-bloodedness in all major groups of dinosaur suggests that endothermy was an ancestral trait that evolved earlier in the archosaur lineage.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2020
Finding Antarctanax is particularly significant not only for Antarctic paleontology but for understanding archosaur evolution in general.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 31 Jan. 2019
But they were related, as part of the same larger archosaur family tree that today includes crocodiles and the surviving dinosaurs, birds.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2018
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Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 15 Aug. 2023
That's because the initial dig was focused more on ancient mammal fossils, so these archosaur fossils gathered academic dust for a time.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 15 Aug. 2023
They were also accompanied by archosaurs, a group that included early dinosaurs.
—Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 21 June 2023
At the end of the Triassic period, small-sized dinosaurs roamed Earth alongside other groups of archosaurs—that is, until a widespread extinction event cleared the way for dinos to put on some serious size.
—Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 16 May 2023
The new analysis of the two Chinese pterosaurs’ pycnofibers, however, could be seen as evidence for another hypothesis: that the currently unknown archosaur ancestor of both dinosaurs and pterosaurs had feathers of some type, and passed the trait down to both groups.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 17 Dec. 2018
Finding evidence of warm-bloodedness in all major groups of dinosaur suggests that endothermy was an ancestral trait that evolved earlier in the archosaur lineage.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2020
Finding Antarctanax is particularly significant not only for Antarctic paleontology but for understanding archosaur evolution in general.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 31 Jan. 2019
But they were related, as part of the same larger archosaur family tree that today includes crocodiles and the surviving dinosaurs, birds.
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2018
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'archosaur.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
New Latin Archosauria, from Greek archōn + sauros lizard
First Known Use
1933, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near archosaur
Cite this Entry
“Archosaur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/archosaur. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on archosaur
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about archosaur
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