crocodilian

noun

croc·o·dil·ian ˌkrä-kə-ˈdi-lē-ən

-ˈdil-yən

: any of an order (Crocodylia) of reptiles including the crocodiles, alligators, caimans, gharials, and related extinct forms

crocodilian adjective

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web In Mesoamerican myth, the ancient monster Cipactli, part crocodilian, part fish or toad, floats in primeval waters, like the Hindu snake of residue, Sheshanaga. —

Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2023 Note the size difference between Razana's chompers and those of the skull of the modern crocodilian at lower left. —

Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 4 July 2017 The giant reptile is the largest extinct crocodilian ever found in Australia, write study authors Jogo Ristevski and Steven W. Salisbury, Queensland University paleontologists, in the Conversation. —

Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 June 2021 That would require ancient crocodilians like thalattosuchians to stay close to land, where nests could be built. —

Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Apr. 2020 One group of marine reptiles called thalattosuchians, which are now-extinct, Jurassic-era relatives of modern crocodilians, left behind a detailed fossil record. —

Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Apr. 2020 More of Nature's Giants Purussaurus was a gargantuan crocodilian that lived in the same area and within the same time period as S. geographicus. —

Daisy Hernandez, Popular Mechanics, 17 Feb. 2020 Even though Illinois has outlawed keeping crocodilians as pets for more than a decade, Chance is just one of many CHS has had to deal with this year alone, says its president Rich Crowley. —

Jim Daley, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2019 This creature attained a length of at least 20 feet and is distantly related to crocodilians. —

Hans-dieter Sues, Smithsonian, 11 Sep. 2019 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'crocodilian.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.